Women’s applications for top roles rise 43%

New Delhi: Job applications by women for leadership and governance roles in India rose sharply over the past year as applications for strategic and top management positions increased 43 per cent year on year (YoY), a report said on Thursday.

On the other hand, those for risk management and compliance roles rose 51 per cent, according to an analysis by Apna.co. The report suggested that women job seekers are increasingly exploring roles higher in the organisational hierarchy rather than remaining concentrated in entry-level positions.

At the same time, applications from freshers grew 18 per cent, outpacing the 11 per cent increase from experienced professionals. Moreover, women-only job postings for strategic and top management roles rose 52 per cent, while women-focused hiring in risk management and compliance increased 57 per cent. Job applications for project and program management roles also doubled. National labour data showed a similar trajectory. Female labour force participation rose to 33.7 per cent in July–September 2025 from 33.4 per cent in the previous quarter, according to the latest quarterly bulletin of the National Statistical Office’s Periodic Labour Force Survey. The female worker population ratio increased to 32 per cent, while overall unemployment declined to 5.2 per cent.