Women Outpace Men in Salary Aspirations, Yet Face Workplace Inequalities

Women Aim for Higher Salaries Than Men
A recent India Skills Report 2025 has revealed that women are more ambitious than men when it comes to salary expectations. While 6.64% of male candidates expect a starting salary between ₹70,000 and ₹80,000, the percentage of women with similar expectations is higher at 8.24%. This shift challenges traditional employment trends and reflects women's growing confidence in the workforce.
Furthermore, job preferences vary geographically. While Southern states remain the top choices for employment, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a preferred destination for both men and women. Among cities, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka are the most sought-after locations for job seekers due to their economic growth and infrastructure.

Persistent Challenges for Women in the Workforce
Despite increased aspirations, women in blue-collar jobs still face significant inequality. A report highlights that women in physical labor-intensive jobs continue to work under precarious conditions, receive lower wages, and struggle for career advancement. Although progress has been made, employment trends show that women remain concentrated in lower-paying, less stable jobs, limiting their growth potential.
The challenges extend to urban employment as well. A shocking report indicates that 8.9 crore urban Indian women were out of the labor force in 2023-24, despite a 10% rise in female employment over six years. Experts warn that the lack of formal employment opportunities and persistent wage gaps continue to push women out of the job market.

Women Lead in e-Shram Portal Registrations
In contrast, women are leading in digital workforce registrations. The e-Shram portal, which facilitates the registration of unorganized sector workers, now has over 30.68 crore registered laborers. Notably, women account for 53.68% of total registrations, surpassing men. Uttar Pradesh leads with 8.38 crore registered workers, followed by Bihar and West Bengal.