Women’s participation in emerging technology hiring in India has climbed to 31% in 2026, up from 26% a year earlier, reflecting a gradual shift in how companies are integrating women into future-facing roles.

The latest Women in the Indian Workforce 2026 report by talent platform Foundit shows job postings indicating women’s representation rose 19% year-on-year between February 2025 and February 2026. The data points to a broader change in employer intent, with hiring expanding beyond entry-level roles to senior positions, higher salary brackets, and non-metro locations.

A key shift is visible in experience bands. While entry-level roles still account for the largest share, their proportion has declined slightly. Jobs for women with 0–3 years’ experience fell from 53% to 49%, while opportunities for professionals with 7–10 years’ experience rose from 11% to 14%. Roles for 11–15 years of experience doubled from 2% to 4%, indicating stronger demand for mid- and senior-level talent.

Hiring expands beyond metros

Geographically, hiring is spreading beyond major metros. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities now account for 44% of job postings featuring women’s representation, up from 41% in 2025. Cities such as Jaipur, Coimbatore, Indore, and Kochi are emerging as new talent hubs. Among metros, Delhi/NCR remains the largest centre for women’s hiring, while southern cities are gaining ground—Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai all saw their share rise year-on-year.

The functional mix of roles is also evolving. Women’s representation increased in IT roles from 32% to 34%, while data and analytics saw a sharp jump from 7% to 10%. Hiring also rose in sales and business development (15% to 16%) and marketing and communications (14% to 16%). In contrast, traditionally women-heavy sectors such as customer service/BPO and human resources recorded marginal declines.

Salary mix improves, startups pay more

The salary mix is improving, though lower pay bands continue to dominate. The share of roles offering ₹11–25 lakh per annum increased from 11% to 16%, while jobs paying above ₹25 lakh rose from 8% to 10%. Still, roles below ₹10 lakh account for 74% of postings, down from 79% last year.

Startups appear to be driving higher compensation levels. Only 61% of women-focused roles in startups fall below ₹10 lakh, compared with 74% across the overall market, while a larger share of startup jobs fall in the ₹11–25 lakh and ₹25 lakh-plus brackets.

Workplace models are also recalibrating. After a sharp push toward return-to-office in 2025, companies are now taking a more balanced approach. Work-from-office mandates grew 18% in 2026, while hybrid roles rose 9% and remote opportunities increased 6%, reflecting a stronger focus on flexibility and retention.

Sachin Alug, CEO of staffing firm NLB Services, says India’s growth ambitions in areas such as AI, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure will depend heavily on how effectively the country mobilises its talent base.

“Womens participation remains one of the largest untapped growth levers,” Alug says. “Integrating more women into emerging technology and future-facing industries will not only address talent shortages but also strengthen innovation and long-term competitiveness.”

As India’s technology-led sectors continue to expand, the momentum in women’s hiring suggests companies are beginning to look beyond traditional talent pools. Sustaining this shift—through better career pathways, inclusive hiring practices, and flexible work models—will be key to ensuring that more women move into high-value roles and leadership positions in the country’s evolving workforce.