Women Stay 36% Longer in Jobs but Form Just 7.6% of Workforce - Report

A recent study of employment statistics based on over 47,800 Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) records shows that women in the formal workforce in India are much more likely to continue in jobs than men are.

The study by fintech platform SalarySe, which concentrated on urban salaried employees, reveals that women are 36% more likely to remain in their job than males, which goes against the historical beliefs surrounding workforce loyalty and turnover.

Women Show Higher Job Stability Than Men

Women employees recorded a median tenure of 10.6 months, compared to 7.8 months for men, indicating significantly higher job stability.

Similar trends are also observed in the initial stages of employment, which is generally regarded as the most unstable period.

• 36% of women leave the workplace within the first six months as compared to 44% of men

The results indicate that women are less prone to early attrition, which is one of the biggest concerns among employers dealing with the cost of hiring and employee retention.

Low Workforce Participation is a Major Issue

Though the retention levels have been stronger, women remain highly underrepresented in the formal labour force in India.

• Women account for just 7.6% of employees
• Equivalent to about 1 per 13 employees

This implies that retaining women employees is not the main issue, but rather their participation at the entry level.

Sectoral Distribution Highlights Uneven Opportunities

The statistics also indicate that there is a great disparity in the female representation across the industries. Sectors with higher women representation include:

• Education: 20.3%
• Information Technology: 13.2%

The sectors with lowest women representation include:

• Manufacturing: 3.6%
• Construction: 3.2%

These trends suggest that women’s participation remains concentrated in specific sectors, while access to opportunities in others remains limited.

Mid-Career Attrition Continues to Impact Women

Although the total retention rate is great, women experience a higher rate of exit during mid-career.

• 19.5% of women aged 35-45 exit the workforce compared to 12.4% of men in the same age group

Such decline is frequently linked to care giving roles, life stage changes, and low workplace support structures, which still have an impact on long term career continuity.

The report defies a common notion that women tend to quit earlier. Rather, the statistics show that the women who get into the workforce stay longer and are more stable in the employment compared to the male counterparts.

Implications for Employers

The results reflect a serious gap in the workforce strategy. Although women demonstrate better retention and reduced early dropout rates, low participation rates indicate that women face obstacles to employment and opportunities.

Such gaps can be addressed by hiring inclusively, providing return-to-work programs, and supporting employees in their mid-careers to create a more stable and consistent workforce.