Women’s job postings in India rise 19 per cent YoY

MUMBAI: Women’s representation in India’s job market just turned up the volume because when postings grow 19 per cent in a year, the glass ceiling starts sounding more like a glass amplifier. Women’s share of job postings across India climbed 19 per cent year-on-year between February 2025 and February 2026, according to the Women in the Indian Workforce 2026 report released by Foundit. The analysis highlights a meaningful shift: opportunities for women are expanding beyond entry-level roles into senior positions, higher salary brackets, emerging technology functions and Tier-2 markets.

Foundit VP for marketing Anupama Bhimrajka said, “Opportunities are expanding beyond entry-level roles into senior positions, higher salary brackets, and growing talent hubs across Tier-2 cities. While a large share of openings still fall below Rs 10 LPA, the broader trend indicates that access to diverse and higher-value roles for women is steadily improving.”

Key shifts include:

• Seniority: Women’s hiring share rose in higher experience bands 7–10 years (11 per cent to 14 per cent), 11–15 years (2 per cent to 4 per cent), and 15+ years (1 per cent to 3 per cent).
• Geography: Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations now account for 44 per cent of women-represented postings (up from 41 per cent), with Tier-2 women-preferred postings growing 22 per cent YoY. Fast-growing hubs include Jaipur, Coimbatore, Indore and Kochi.
• City share: Delhi/NCR leads (21 per cent), followed by Bengaluru (16 per cent), Mumbai (14 per cent), Pune (11 per cent), Hyderabad (10 per cent) and Chennai (9 per cent).
• Functions: Representation increased in IT (32 per cent to 34 per cent), Data & Analytics (7 per cent to 10 per cent), Sales & Business Development (15 per cent to 16 per cent), and Marketing & Communications (14 per cent to 16 per cent). Customer Service/BPO dipped from 12 per cent to 10 per cent, and Human Resources from 21 per cent to 20 per cent.
• Salaries: Postings below Rs 10 LPA fell from 79 per cent to 74 per cent, while Rs 11–25 LPA rose from 11 per cent to 16 per cent and Rs 25 plus LPA from 8 per cent to 10 per cent. Startups show an even stronger tilt toward higher bands (Rs 11–25 LPA at 24 per cent, Rs 25 plus LPA at 15 per cent).
• Work models: Return-to-office mandates grew only 18 per cent in 2026 (down from 55 per cent in 2025), while hybrid roles rose 9 per cent and remote opportunities increased 6 per cent.

The report points to a narrowing demand-supply gap in emerging tech roles (women’s participation up from 26 per cent to 31 per cent), signalling a more inclusive ecosystem ahead.

In a job market that’s finally turning the dial toward balance, the numbers whisper a clear message: Indian workplaces aren’t just opening doors for women, they’re starting to widen the corridors.