Work force with blue collar in India: 1 of 5 jobs, challenges remain: Rediff Moneynews

New Delhi, the women of March 13 (PTI) have only one in five jobs in the workforce with blue collar in India, with harsh job challenges, from salary disappearances to weak sanitation, really showed a job and employment.

The survey, which studied over 4,000 employers and employees from 14 level 1 and 2 industries, revealed that, while 73 % of employers hired women for blue collar roles in 2024, women’s participation remained at 20 % at national level.

Blue collar occupations are formally defined as those working roles that involve manual or physical work first.

While industries such as retail, medical assistance and pharmaceuticals, construction and real estate, as well as travel and hospitality, with an average of 30 % in women’s participation, telecommunications, BFSI and IT/Ites have a representation below 10 %.

While more women are looking for jobs with blue collar mainly for financial independence, work at work remain harsh, the report said.

Over half of the questioned women cites the lack of flexible changes as a barrier. The nature of the jobs with blue collar often requires the strict change calendar, which makes it difficult to balance women to balance work and personal responsibilities.

There is a significant wage difference in the blue collar sector of India, 42 % of women considering that they are unpaid compared to their men’s counterparts.

In addition, these women face fewer opportunities for advancement and career promotions, further aggravating the remuneration gap between women and men.

Each second woman questioned has expressed interest in improvement, but access to relevant formation remains a challenge. Without structured learning paths, career evolution remains limited.

Despite these challenges, 78 % of employers intend to hire more women in 2025, marking a 5 % increase in engaging intention compared to the previous year.

However, they quote a “limited talents group” and a high attraction as major obstacles. Increasing health care costs is also a challenge, even if women classify medical benefits, such as insurance and medical leave paid as critical expectations at work.

“While businesses make efforts to engage more women, true progress depends on better retention strategies, career growth opportunities and policies that provide financial security, flexibility and medical assistance.

“Employers must invest in qualifications, mentoring and driving pipes adapted to women with blue collar. Increasing women’s participation today is more than just about diversity, it is an economic necessity,” said Sashi Kumar, the head of sales, indeed India.