Educated but Underutilised: Engineering records lowest female employability rate at 22%, as per report

Despite a 28 per cent rise in women’s higher education enrolment as per the AISHE 2023 report, India is facing a paradox where only 34–37 per cent of graduating women are employable, according to the latest Her Path, Her Power report by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship (TLDA).

The disconnect between degrees and job readiness for females is emerging as one of the biggest bottlenecks in India’s talent pipeline, where females contribute just 18 per cent to GDP despite making 48 per cent of the total population.

In IT and software, approximately 36 per cent of women graduates are considered employable, while in BFSI, this figure is marginally higher at 40 per cent. The retail and sales sector shows female employability at 42 per cent.

The contrast across sectors is stark. Healthcare leads with 55–60 per cent women employability, driven by structured training pathways and clear skill alignment. At the other end of the spectrum, engineering records a worrying low of just 22 per cent, underscoring deep gaps for women entering technical fields.

This is not enough. Women earn between 20-35 per cent less than their male counterparts for similar jobs, with discrepancies reaching up to 28 per cent in leadership positions.

India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate stands at approximately 31.7 per cent, significantly lower than the global average of around 50 per cent. In urban areas, this rate is even more concerning at about 22 per cent, despite the rising educational achievements of women.

Despite gaining more qualifications, women continue to be concentrated in low-paying sectors. For instance, although the number of female MBBS graduates is increasing, women only represent about 17 per cent of allopathic doctors.

In corporate India, women occupy around 31 per cent of entry-level positions; however, their representation decreases to approximately 17 per cent at the executive level and 20 per cent on corporate boards, according to the Teamlease report.

Amid this widening gap, apprenticeships are gaining attention as a practical solution. Data shows that nearly 98% of apprentices transition into formal employment, with a significant proportion retained by the same employer. For women, apprenticeships provide structured entry points, paid learning, and real workplace experience — often overcoming barriers like lack of experience, career breaks, or confidence gaps.

Yet adoption remains uneven. Over 38% of companies still report having no women apprentices at all, highlighting the untapped potential within corporate hiring strategies.

Female apprenticeship participation is growing rapidly, with enrolment increasing by 58 per cent over three years, driven by sectors such as IT, retail, and automotive. However, sectors like BFSI, healthcare, and logistics remain underutilised.

While metropolitan cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are at the forefront, with Hyderabad reporting 42 per cent women apprentices in 2024, cities such as Kolkata and Chennai are showing steady annual gains.