World Youth Skills Day, observed every July 15, highlights the essential role of skills development in addressing unemployment and fostering decent work opportunities. In India, a significant yet paradoxical situation exists: while women account for 43% of the country’s STEM graduates—surpassing all major economies—only 27% of the STEM workforce comprises women. This disparity limits women’s access to career opportunities within the rapidly evolving STEM sector.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2023-24 indicates a rise in India’s overall female labor force participation rate (FLFPR) to 41.7%, representing a notable increase after years of stagnation. Notably, rural women show a more significant improvement, with an FLFPR of 47.6%, compared to only 25.4% in urban settings. These statistics underscore existing barriers in formal employment, including workplace safety and societal expectations. In the STEM field, the gender gap is even more evident. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics reported in 2021 that just 31.5% of global researchers are women, a reflection of the systemic obstacles that need addressing. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, empowering an additional 68 million women to join India’s labor force could add up to $700 billion to the country’s GDP by 2025. The World Bank further emphasizes that achieving a 50% female workforce participation rate could increase GDP growth by 1%.
Government Initiatives in STEM Skilling
The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to enhance retention rates and opportunities in STEM. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has aligned educational initiatives with skills development and life skills training to better serve the youth in India. Renewed focus on revitalizing Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and expanding vocational training helps bring high-quality technical education to rural areas, ensuring more equitable access for young people.
This initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), where women’s economic empowerment is critical to inclusive progress. There has been an increase in the gender budget within the national budget from 6.8% in 2024-25 to 8.8% in 2025-26, amounting to ₹4.49 lakh crore for gender-specific programs.
The Union Budget for 2025-26 has introduced initiatives such as term loans for women entrepreneurs, new National Skill Training Institutes, and investment in technology-driven skill training. India’s framework, including Skill India and Digital India, as well as initiatives like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ and PM Vishwakarma Yojana, have expressed the government’s intent to address these issues. However, without the active involvement of the industry, closing the education-employment gap will remain challenging.
The Critical Role of Industry
To effectively narrow the divide between skill development and employment, especially for women, the industry must play a pivotal role. Deeply entrenched social norms often paint technical fields as gendered—e.g., the perception that “mechanical is masculine” or “coding isn’t for girls”—which create invisible barriers for women entering these sectors. Research, including findings by the World Bank and UNESCO, shows that women’s departure from STEM is rarely due to a lack of ability but often results from unwelcoming workplaces, lack of family awareness regarding career opportunities, and rigid gender roles. To truly unlock the potential of the workforce, it’s crucial to address these stereotypes and ensure that workplaces are safe, equitable, and accommodating of life changes such as marriage and motherhood.
Increasingly, the private sector is rising to the challenge. Many companies are now adopting structured mentoring programs, industry-linked training initiatives, and partnerships with educational institutions to facilitate direct pathways from education to careers. One such initiative is the WeSTEM program by UN Women, in collaboration with the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and supported by the Micron Foundation. This program fosters skill development and addresses the talent gap, advocating for family awareness and community engagement while providing mentorship to promote women’s participation in STEM.
A Framework for Industry Leadership
To effectively bridge the education-employment divide, industry must collaborate with educational institutions, establish mentorship networks that connect professionals with students, and create workplace policies that address life transitions while ensuring safety. The question is not about whether India can afford to invest in women’s STEM careers; rather, it’s whether the industry can afford not to. By equipping women and girls with essential skills and training, we foster a more inclusive and resilient society. When women achieve financial independence, their influence reverberates throughout families, workplaces, policymaking, and entire industries, ultimately paving the way toward a promising future for India.
Kanta Singh serves as the Country Representative, a.i., for UN Women India and is part of Team UN in India. Antara Lahiri is the Director for Micron Foundation in Asia and Europe. Micron Technology and the Micron Foundation are committed to enhancing access to STEM education and creating pathways to future high-tech careers.
Published – July 15, 2025 12:08 am IST
