Indian women earn more than men in management but are fewer in number

In India, when considering all employees, men earn significantly more than women, but at the management level, this situation is completely reversed. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 'Women in Business and Management' report, women working as managers earn on average 4.7% more per hour than men. However, alongside this positive aspect, a major challenge is that women's share among India's total managers is only 11.9%, which is extremely low on a global scale.

If the entire workforce is compared, India is among the countries in the world where the gender-based wage gap is highest. Among all employees, men earn 19.5% more per hour than women. India ranks seventh among 50 countries with data up to 2024, and this gap is highest among the nine G-20 members. Out of 50 countries in the world, women managers earn more than men in only 10 countries. For example, in America, instead of this difference being in favor of women at the management level, it increases up to 24.3%.

Women's participation in management in India has been observed to decline in recent years. In 2018, the share of women in senior and middle-level management in India was 14.3%, which increased to 17.3% in 2020, but thereafter it continued to decrease and reached 11.9% in 2025. Among 89 countries with data, this share of women managers is the third lowest, with only Pakistan (9.6%) and Bangladesh (7.2%) below India. In comparison, 44.1% of women are in management in America and 44.7% in Sweden, while in five countries such as Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, this share is 50% or more.

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2025 report, only 40% of Indian women aged 15 years or more are involved in the labour force, while the proportion of men is 79%. Women's participation has increased, but this is primarily through rural areas and self-employment work.

Obstacles are also seen in the career development of women in companies. According to the EY-KPMG 'Women Leadership in Corporate India 2026' report, in 30% of organizations, less than 10% of women who have been working for a long time have been able to reach leadership roles. In another 36% of organizations, 10% to 30% of women have reached this position. The figures are different for men; in 29% of organizations, less than 30% of men have reached leadership, while in 66% of organizations, this has been observed with women. Furthermore, in 33% of organizations, more than half of long-term male employees have progressed to leadership, while for women, this figure is only 10%.

A major reason for women not reaching leadership levels is a lack of experience. According to a survey conducted by Aon on more than 1,500 leaders in 30 cities, only 68% of women have held P&L (Profit and Loss) roles compared to 91% of men. This difference is even greater in the sales sector, where it is only 45% of women compared to 90% of men. These are positions where managers meet targets and are responsible for revenue, which the ILO considers the primary path to reaching top positions.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) serves as an agency that sets labour and employment standards worldwide. Its primary function is to protect workers' rights and work towards social justice.