As of March 2024, the number of female employees in major IT companies has reduced to 5,15,000.
The survey was conducted by staffing company Xpheno and highlights gender diversity at top IT companies.
A recent study indicates a decline in the female workforce in the country's top IT companies amid the high attrition rate in the industry. Around 25,000 female employees left top IT companies, including TCS and Infosys, in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), according to a study by staffing firm Xpheno.
The drop in the number of female employees was reported across all major Indian IT players such as Infosys, TCS, Wipro, LTI Mindtree and HCL Tech, among others.
The study, conducted by staffing firm Xpheno, highlighted gender diversity at the country's top IT companies. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, a significant increase in the total number of female employees in the industry has been observed. However, the gender diversity ratio remained stagnant.
According to the report, from March 2020 to March 2023, an increase in the total number of female employees was observed in major IT companies. The figures showed an increase from about 3,74,000 to 5,40,000. However, as of March 2024, the number of female employees in major IT companies has reduced to 5,15,000.
Between FY2020 and FY2024, the total number of female employees increased by 38 per cent to 1,41,000. However, the gender ratio increased by just 0.9 percent. From fiscal year 2018 to fiscal year 2020, a 1.56 percent increase in female employment was observed.
The study showed that there has been a significant drop in the number of women in leadership positions in the Indian IT sector. Avtar Group Founder Chairman Saundarya Rajesh said: “This lack of progress can be discouraging for ambitious women. Imagine going into a field, only to face constant obstacles to advancing and receiving fair compensation.”
According to her, the lack of opportunities for newly employed women, even if they come from diverse backgrounds, can be incredibly discouraging.
In IT companies, around 26 percent of women are forced to resign, according to the study.
