The world as we know it is changing, and many truths we once held dear have now evaporated into the ether. One of these long-held beliefs is that of the representation of women in the workplace, particularly so in the Indian context, where very nearly 70% of the workforce is comprised of men. For a nation that looks to make the most of its demographic dividend, we simply cannot countenance this trend to continue. Indeed, some economists predict that if India is to achieve women must account for more than half of the new workforce that will be created by 2030 if the country is to hit its 8% GDP growth rate target.

We are a long way from seeing women represent half the workforce though. According to a LinkedIn and Quantum Hub report, there has been incremental growth in new female leadership hires, which increased from 18.8% in 2016 to 23.2% in early 2024. The report also showed an overall increase in female representation in the workforce over the years, rising from 23.9% in 2016 to 26.8% in 2024. That number, while cause for optimism, reveals the sobering reality that there is much work ahead of us if we are to create truly inclusive workplaces.