Archive · 8 Jan 2026
Engineering has lowest female employability rate at 22%
In India, there's a big problem where many women are getting degrees, but not enough are ready for jobs.
Only 34-37% of women who graduate are actually employable.
The worst part is in engineering, where only 22% of women are ready for jobs.
This is much lower than in healthcare, where 55-60% of women are employable.
Women also earn less money than men for the same jobs.
But there's hope!
Apprenticeships are helping women get real work experience and better jobs.
More women are joining apprenticeships, especially in cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
This can help fix the problem and make the workforce more equal.
Only 22% of women in engineering are employable, the lowest among all sectors.
Healthcare leads with 55-60% female employability due to structured training pathways.
Women earn 20-35% less than men for similar jobs, with discrepancies up to 28% in leadership positions.
Apprenticeships are emerging as a solution, with 98% of apprentices transitioning to formal employment.
Female apprenticeship participation has grown by 58% over three years, driven by sectors like IT, retail, and automotive.
- Who
- Women in India, particularly in engineering and other sectors
- What
- Low female employability rates and gender disparities in the workforce
- When
- As per the latest Her Path, Her Power report by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship (TLDA) and AISHE 2023 report
- Where
- India
- Why
- Due to a disconnect between higher education and job readiness, structured training pathways, and skill alignment issues
- Female Employability Rate in Engineering
- 22%
- Female Employability Rate in Healthcare
- 55-60%
- Female Employability Rate in IT & Software
- 36%
- Female Employability Rate in BFSI
- 40%
- Female Employability Rate in Retail & Sales
- 42%
- Female Labour Force Participation Rate in India
- 31.7%
- Female Representation in Corporate Boards
- 20%
- Percentage of Apprentices Transitioning to Formal Employment
- 98%