Archive · 5 Jan 2026
India's Retail Sector Focuses on Women Workforce
India's retail sector is trying to hire more women because they stay in jobs longer and help make the workplace better.
Right now, women work a lot in fashion and beauty stores, but not so much in electronics or FMCG sales.
Some companies are making special efforts to support women, like providing safe transport and flexible schedules.
They believe that having more women in leadership roles will help the business grow.
Some stores already have a lot of women working, and they plan to have even more in the future.
The goal is to make the retail sector a place where women can thrive and lead.
India's retail sector is focusing on hiring more women to improve workforce stability and customer experience.
Women's participation varies across categories, with high representation in fashion and beauty retail but low in electronics and FMCG sales.
Retailers are investing in workplace investments like safe transport, flexible schedules, and mentorship to attract and retain women.
Some companies are redesigning store leaderships and appointing women as HR heads to boost female workforce participation.
The retail sector is expected to grow significantly, with organised retail's share climbing to over 35 per cent by 2030.
- Who
- India's retail sector, including retailers, staffing firms, and industry experts
- What
- The focus on increasing women's participation in the retail workforce and the challenges and successes in doing so
- When
- Over the next few years, with immediate actions and long-term goals
- Where
- Across India, with specific examples from Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi, and Maharashtra
- Why
- To improve customer experience, workforce stability, and long-term growth, and to address structural barriers and gender disparities
- Women's Participation in Retail
- Varies across categories, roles, and regions
- Women in Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, and Cosmetics Retail
- Nearly two-thirds of the frontline workforce
- Women in Electronics and Consumer Durables
- Barely 5 to 7 per cent
- Women in FMCG Feet-on-Street Sales
- Below 5 per cent
- Retail Sector Growth
- Expected to grow from $1.18 trillion in 2025 to nearly $2 trillion by 2030
- Organised Retail's Share
- Expected to climb to over 35 per cent from 18 per cent by 2030
- Essensai067's Gender Ratio
- Almost equal across retail, F&B, operations, and creative teams
- Archies' Female Workforce
- Nearly 50 per cent across its offline retail network
- Ghodawat Retail's Female Workforce
- About 30 per cent nationally, 42 per cent in Maharashtra
- Motovolt's Female Workforce
- Just over 10 per cent of its 350-workforce
- Solitario's Gender Balance Goal
- 1:1 gender balance at its head office
- MY LYF CARE's Female Workforce
- About half its store workforce, aiming for 65-70 per cent in three years