Upskilling Trends: Women Taking Charge, Mentorship Is Key

When women actively participate in the workforce, it's not just about occupying seats; it's about introducing new dimensions of diversity, creativity, and innovation. However, in the past, women often dropped out of the labor force for various reasons, one being the lack of skills demanded by the rapidly changing job market. 

In recent years, a noticeable trend has emerged in India's workforce - more women are enthusiastically embracing upskilling opportunities compared to their male counterparts. This trend is encouraging and paves the way for gender equity in India’s burgeoning job market. Let’s take a closer look.

Employability Versus Participation Quandary

As per India Skills Report 2023, the percentage of women found to be employable has increased to 52.8 percent, compared to 47.2 percent for men. Another report by AISHE says that the female gross enrolment ratio (GER) has surpassed male GER for the fifth consecutive year, reaching 28.5 in 2021-22. In fact, the percentage of women is most significant at the postgraduate level, where 55.4% of students are female, demonstrating girls' propensity for pursuing higher education. However, despite these promising statistics, the situation on the ground tells a different story.

As per the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey, only 37% of women are participating in the workforce, despite being more employable or qualified than men. A survey by DP-WEE suggests that three out of every five women surveyed in urban areas of Delhi and Bengaluru, expressed a lack of confidence in possessing the skills needed to secure a stable, high-paying job. Additionally, 57% admitted to feeling underprepared for job interviews, while half of the respondents confessed to being unsure about crafting a resume.

This clearly indicates that while men are less employable than women, the ground reality is that they are more skilled to work in the current market. Here is where the role of women upskilling comes into play.

By providing women with opportunities to enhance their skills and acquire new competencies, upskilling initiatives empower them to overcome barriers to employment and participate more actively in various sectors of the economy. Upskilling equips women with the necessary knowledge, confidence, and expertise to meet the evolving demands of the job market and plays a crucial role in narrowing the gender gap in the workforce. 

As learning and upskilling opportunities become more conducive and accessible for both genders, women are ready to take charge. Here’s how. 

Seizing Opportunities Step By Step

As per the study conducted by Emeritus Executive Education in 20 Indian tier-I and tier-II cities, about 87% of the female professionals were actively seeking upskilling opportunities in the latest technology. For men, this percentage stands at 88%. More than 1,700 professionals were surveyed in this study. 

The research further revealed that female executives at the C-suite level demonstrated a greater willingness than their male counterparts to invest in furthering their education. Depending on the seniority level, women were okay with shelling out about INR 8,000 to 34,000 on upskilling annually. For female C-suite executives, the budget for higher education and upskilling programs stood at INR 8 to 9 lakh. This was approx. INR 1.25 lakh more than their male counterparts. 

Women's eagerness to learn is not just restricted to the corporate sector. In one of the government’s written responses in Lok Sabha, more than 81% of the 13.8 lakh non-literate and neo-literate trained under Jan Shikshan Sansthan are women! 81 percent is a whopping figure for India, a country that has been ranked at 123rd position out of 161 nations in UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index. 

With greater emphasis placed on gender equality and women's empowerment, there has been a concerted effort to provide women with access to training opportunities previously reserved for men. As a result, women are trying to seize every chance to enhance their skills and expand their career prospects like never before. If presented with the right upskilling opportunities and mentored well, women can surely unlock their full potential, break barriers, and achieve remarkable success in their professional endeavors.

Role of Mentorship For Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers

Mentorship is pivotal in guiding women on their upskilling journey by providing them with valuable guidance, support, and resources to navigate the challenges and opportunities in their career development. Mentorship can contribute to: 

• Personalized guidance
• Career exploration
• Networking opportunities
• Confidence building
• Navigating challenges
• Continuous learning

A good mentor possesses a genuine passion and a desire to help others grow. At Unstop, we have a strong line-up of experienced mentors who can offer unwavering support to help you navigate your professional journey confidently and succeed. 

Growth Guardians: Unstop’s Top-Rated Women Mentors  

• Palak Gupta 
• Chinakshi Arora
• Meghana Chavan Singh
• Devaki Nandana Vardhineedi
• Pooja Gera

Investing in women's upskilling isn't just about individual empowerment; it's about unlocking the full potential of India's most valuable resource: its people. By policymakers, employers, and society working together to support women's education and training initiatives, we can unlock a future where women are not only present, but thriving in the workforce, shaping the future of India. 

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