From an economic lens, for women to have more equity, it is imperative that they have a larger presence in growth areas, many of which are STEM sectors. In India, according to IBEF, the IT industry accounted for 7.4% of India’s GDP in FY22, and this is expected to increase to 10% by 2025. Another STEM related growth sector is pharmaceuticals, where the Indian market is expected to grow from US$42 billion in 2021 to US$130 billion by 2030. Life sciences and healthcare are expected to face a shortage of talent over the next few years.
Start-ups, considered one of the engines of India’s growing economy, are mostly present in 56 sectors. Of these, 13% are in IT services, 9% in healthcare and life sciences, 7% in education, and 5% each in professional and commercial services, agriculture and food and beverages, states the recent EY India@100 report.
However, to be able to tap into the opportunities that STEM related growth sectors offer, India Inc. as well as the government must address the issue of converting women STEM graduates into STEM talent. At present, there is a wide gap between women graduates and job seekers.
The most recent All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) shows that of the about 9.5 million students who enrolled for STEM courses in 2021, 43.2% were women. But the high participation in STEM education is not getting translated into more women taking up jobs in related sectors. According to the World Bank, women make up nearly 43% of the total STEM graduates, but just 14% of scientists, engineers and technologists in research development institutions and universities.
Consulting, ITeS, IT, BFSI and Media, Internet and Advertising are the top sectors in India that employ women in STEM with the representation ranging between 45% in Consulting and 30% in Media, Internet and Advertising.
The narrow pipeline of women working in STEM shrinks, however, when it comes to women in leadership roles across sectors. In a survey of 1,004 women tech professionals, only 7% said they held executive-level positions and 13% were at director level (Skillsoft 2022 Women in Tech Report – India Region), while 17% mentioned holding mid-level manager positions.
Setting the foundation
At the policy level, the government has launched some gender advancement initiatives especially aimed at STEM fields. These include Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) and Knowledge Involvement Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) programs. The Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP), 2020 includes incorporating a grading system based on merit and performance, allowing 30% quota for women in decision-making positions and offering gender neutral rules and recommendations to make the daily workday easier.