Job applications by women for leadership and governance roles in India have significantly increased in the past year, with a notable 43% rise in applications for strategic and top management positions, as per a report by Apna.co. Additionally, applications for risk management and compliance roles saw a 51% increase, indicating a shifting trend among women job seekers towards higher organizational positions.
The report highlights a growing inclination among women towards roles higher up in the hierarchy rather than being concentrated in entry-level positions. There has been a noticeable preference for stable employment, with a 33% increase in applications for full-time positions compared to a 21% rise in part-time roles, according to the professional networking platform.
Moreover, the data reveals that applications from freshers have grown by 18%, surpassing the 11% increase from experienced professionals. Notably, women-only job postings for strategic and top management roles have surged by 52%, while women-focused hiring in risk management and compliance roles has seen a substantial 57% increase. Applications for project and program management roles have also doubled.
National labor data mirrors this trend, showing a rise in female labor force participation to 33.7% in July–September 2025 from 33.4% in the previous quarter, with the female worker population ratio reaching 32% and overall unemployment declining to 5.2%.
Applications in data science and analytics have spiked by 86% year on year, research and development by 88%, quality assurance by 90%, and product management by 62%. Kartik Narayan, CEO of Jobs Marketplace at Apna, noted that the surge in applications for senior management, compliance, and skill-intensive roles signifies a significant shift towards advancement opportunities for women in India’s labor market.
Geographically, Tier-2 cities have seen a 27% increase in women’s job applications compared to a 10% rise in Tier-1 markets. Notably, Noida recorded the highest year-on-year growth in job applications among Tier-1 cities, with around 14%, while Indore witnessed a 16% increase in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. In contrast, Surat saw a 3% growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and Mumbai around 7% in Tier-1 cities.
