As India’s manufacturing industry charges toward an estimated USD 1 trillion valuation by 2025-26, women are rising to the occasion, shattering stereotypes, and transforming a historically male-dominated sector.
Though accounting for only 18.9% of formal manufacturing jobs, women are making rapid progress in textiles, automotive, and electronics, propelling innovation and economic development.
Still, obstacles such as gender bias and skills shortages remain, driving government and industry initiatives to increase inclusion, recent statistics and industry chiefs said.
Indian manufacturing presents huge obstacles for women. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (2022-23) reveals the presence of women in formal manufacturing declined to 18.9% from 20.9% in 2015-16, much less than the 25% global average.
In the unofficial sector, where 43% of factory workers are women, work in apparel and tobacco pays poorly and has little security. Social perceptions that manufacturing is hard labor discourage women, even though contemporary factories embrace automation and improved conditions.
The gender pay gap is another hurdle. Women earn up to 18% less than men for similar roles globally, a trend mirrored in India. Bias often relegates women to low-skill assembly jobs, with only 9% reaching CEO roles across industries, per a 2023 study. Safety concerns and workplace harassment, especially in smaller units, further discourage participation.
Limited technical training—just 6% of women in manufacturing possess vocational skills—limits their access to high-demand jobs such as robotics or quality control.
Despite these limitations, women are reshaping manufacturing. In Tamil Nadu, which accounts for 41% of India’s formal female manufacturing labor force, women are the majority in textile production, leading in weaving and garment-making.
Their ability to pay attention and their multitasking abilities increase productivity, industry insiders add. Large firms are noticing. Daimler India Commercial Vehicles recruited 46 women in 2021 under DiveIN program with a focus of achieving 20% female strength.
Mahindra & Mahindra has more than 150 women working in production and engineering, and Eicher Motors has an all-women engine assembly line manned by 140 women.
Women are also leading from the top. Nyrika Holkar, Executive Director at Godrej & Boyce, is spearheading innovation in sustainable appliances, and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s Biocon has turned India into a world leader in affordable biopharmaceuticals. Entrepreneurs such as Jyothi Reddy, who climbed from being a textile worker to CEO of Keys Software Solutions, inspire others to enter leadership.
“Women bring special thinking to the factory floor, enhancing quality and stimulating creativity,” said Anjali Sharma, a production supervisor with a Gujarat-based electronics company. “But we require more training and support to get larger jobs.”
Industry and government are joining forces to bridge the gap between men and women. Women are taught garment design and quality check under the Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS), and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) provides technical skills for free.
Laws such as the Maternity Benefits Act and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act provide for safer work environments. The 2020 Occupational Safety Code enables women to work at night shifts with proper safety, giving women equal rights.
Firms are not sitting idle. JCB India educates more than 110 women in technical jobs, while Samsung’s entire technical school at Patna has trained 5,000 women since 2019. Organizations such as SEWA enable women artisans with vocational training and exposure to markets, and the CII Centre for Women Leadership facilitates inclusive environments.
To effectively utilize women’s potential, India needs to bridge skill gaps, with just 6% women trained for Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI. Flexible work culture, which companies such as Nutanix have adopted, can assist women in balancing career and family life. Eradicating prejudice demands women being promoted to senior roles and equal pay. Public campaigning, such as by the Ministry of Textiles, is necessary to break perceptions that manufacturing is “men’s work.”
Women play a key role in India’s manufacturing plans, with their 17% contribution to GDP. Their integration accelerates innovation—diverse teams are 25% more likely to surpass, according to McKinsey. With India eyeing USD 776.68 billion in exports during FY 2023-24, women’s expertise in export-oriented sectors such as textiles are essential. Bridging the gender gap may contribute USD 770 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, according to World Bank estimates.
As India aims for a Viksit Bharat, women in industry are showing their mettle, from factory shop floors to C-suites. With improved skilling, balanced policies, and industry backing, their contribution will only increase. “The manufacturing future is inclusive,” commented Priya Menon, a CII policy analyst. “Women are not participants, they’re leaders.” To learn more about empowering women in industry, see labour.gov.in or reach out to your local industry association.