Female representation in the chemicals and manufacturing sectors has significantly increased over the past four years, according to a report by The Udaiti Foundation and Quess Corp. The study, “From Rhetoric to Action – Creating Gender Inclusive Workplaces,” noted a rise in women’s involvement in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Despite this progress, career opportunities drive 43% of job departures across genders, with women leaving slightly more than men within the first 90 days. Female representation is highest in Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) at 26% and Consumer Services at 24%, but remains low among Quess associates at 17%.
The demand for female employees in manufacturing is growing, with women comprising 11% of Quess’s workforce in this sector, particularly in Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) firms. Pooja Sharma Goyal, CEO of The Udaiti Foundation, emphasized the importance of increasing female workforce participation to reach India’s $10 trillion economy target.
Comprehensive benefits packages, such as Provident Fund (PF) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) schemes, improve female retention rates. Married women with PF benefits are three times more likely to stay, and single women with ESIC benefits are 48% more likely to remain in their jobs. Family responsibilities and health issues, including pregnancy, are major reasons for women leaving their jobs.
Guruprasad Srinivasan, Executive Director and Group CEO of Quess Corp, reiterated the company’s commitment to bridging the gender gap in employment to boost the country’s GDP. Srinivasan highlighted efforts to hire women across various sectors, provide accommodations for migrant workers, and deploy female liaison officers at manufacturing units. A chatbot has also been introduced to engage with new hires during their first 90 days to identify potential retention issues.
