Flexible IT jobs see rising women participation: Survey

Women’s participation in contractual and flexible roles in India’s IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) sector has reached 40 per cent in FY26, marking a steady increase over recent years, according to a report by Careernet. The study, based on an annual sample of around 3,000 contractual placements, indicates a significant shift in employment patterns and preferences.

The report, titled “Women in IT/ITeS: Trends in Contractual/Flexi Roles,” notes that women’s representation in such roles has grown by 10 percentage points—from about 30 per cent in FY22 to 40 per cent in FY26. Overall, women constitute nearly 30 per cent of the contractual workforce in the sector, accounting for approximately 96,000 professionals out of an estimated 3.2 lakh.

The findings suggest that flexible work arrangements are gaining traction, offering women greater adaptability in managing professional and personal commitments. This shift is also reflected in the types of roles women are choosing, with increasing participation in core business and technology functions.

Key highlights

• Rising Participation: Women’s share in flexi IT roles has increased steadily over four years, indicating growing acceptance and demand for flexible employment models.

• Role Preferences: Finance and Accounting leads with 43 per cent participation, followed by Data Science and Analytics at 34 per cent. Roles in UX, design, and architecture account for 31 per cent, reflecting a move towards high-skill functions.

• Geographical Concentration: Major technology hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune account for more than half of the total talent pool. Delhi NCR and Chennai also show notable participation, while Tier-2 cities contribute around 11 per cent.

• Experience Levels: Most women in flexi roles are in the early to mid stages of their careers, with those having 5–8 years of experience forming the largest group, followed by professionals with less than two years of experience.

The report also points to a gradual expansion of opportunities across domains such as software engineering, IT security, and consulting, although representation in certain specialised areas remains comparatively lower. Overall, the findings reflect a broader shift in India’s IT workforce, where flexible employment models are enabling greater inclusion and participation of women, particularly in evolving and high-growth sectors.