Archive · 25 Dec 2025
CPSEs See Decline in Regular Employees, Rise in Contract Workers
In India, the number of regular employees in big government companies (CPSEs) has been going down over the last five years.
Instead, these companies are hiring more temporary or contract workers.
As of March 2025, there are 475 such companies, and they employ over 15.42 lakh people.
The increase in total employees is mostly because of more temporary workers, while the number of regular employees has decreased by about 30,000.
Most employees in these companies are skilled, and the share of women employees has slightly decreased.
Some industries, like petroleum and steel, have more temporary workers, while others, like power transmission, have more regular employees.
The number of regular employees in CPSEs has declined over the last five years, except for FY23.
The number of casual or contract workers has increased, except during the COVID year (FY21).
As of FY25, CPSEs employed over 15.42 lakh persons, with a growth of 1.61% from FY24.
The petroleum sector had the highest percentage of casual/daily-rated and contract workers at 82%.
The share of women in total employment decreased to nearly 10% in FY25.
- Who
- Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)
- What
- Decline in regular employees and rise in contract workers
- When
- Over the last five years, with data as of March 31, 2025
- Where
- India
- Why
- To rationalize wage bills and lower statutory payments
- Total CPSEs
- 475
- Operating CPSEs
- 291
- Total Employees (FY25)
- 15.42 lakh
- Total Employees (FY24)
- 15.18 lakh
- Growth in Employees (FY25)
- 1.61%
- Increase in Casual/Contract Workers (FY25)
- 54,000
- Decrease in Regular Employees (FY25)
- 30,000
- Percentage of Skilled Employees (FY25)
- 83%
- Percentage of Women Employees (FY25)
- 10%