Women in India’s Manufacturing Sector

April 19, 2025

India’s manufacturing sector plays a vital role in its economy, contributing nearly one-fifth of the GDP. However, women’s participation in this sector remains alarmingly low. The share of women in India’s formal manufacturing workforce declined from 20.9% in 2015-16 to 18.9% in 2022-23. This decline is concerning, especially as the country aims to achieve the ambitious goal of Viksit Bharat.

Current Statistics

In 2022-23, only 1.57 million out of 8.34 million formal workers in manufacturing were women. Tamil Nadu stands out, employing 41% of these women. In contrast, informal manufacturing sees women constituting 43% of the workforce. This indicates that while women are working, they are often relegated to low-paying, informal jobs.

State-wise Distribution

Five states—Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh—account for portion of the female workforce in manufacturing. These states alone contribute close to 50% of the informal women workforce. Meanwhile, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana exhibit the highest gender gaps in formal manufacturing, with women making up less than 6% of the workforce.

Industry Concentration

Women in the formal sector are predominantly found in textiles, wearing apparel, and food processing, while the informal sector sees high employment in wearing apparel and tobacco industries. Notably, the tobacco industry is unique in that it employs more women than men, with over 90% of workers in informal tobacco being female.

Challenges Faced by Women

The low participation of women in the formal manufacturing sector can be attributed to several factors. A barrier is the lack of vocational training, with only 6% of women in the sector having received formal training. Furthermore, educational disparities exist, as only 30% of women have completed secondary education compared to 47% of men.

Steps for Improvement

To enhance women’s participation in manufacturing, several measures are crucial. First, skill training must be prioritised to improve productivity. Second, encouraging women to pursue higher education will increase their employability. Third, diversification across sectors is essential to provide a variety of job opportunities. Lastly, creating safe working environments is imperative. Initiatives like Tamil Nadu’s ‘Thozhi’ scheme, which established working women’s hostels, exemplify targeted interventions needed across states to address unique challenges.

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