Blog

In a remarkable shift from traditional norms, the manufacturing sector is witnessing a surge in demand for women apprentices. Fueled by gender-agnostic recruitment practices, this shift reflects the industry's commitment to fostering inclusive work environments & diversifying its talent pool.

Over the past 8-10 months, there has been a 5x increase in the demand for young women who have completed class 10/12 to be appointed as apprentices, signaling a transformative change in India's workforce dynamics.

The focus towards increasing the share of the women workforce is particularly evident in booming sectors such as Auto, Electric Vehicle (EV), Electronics and Mobile phone manufacturing.

Our Chief Strategy Officer Sumit Kumar anticipates that this trend will lead to a significant increase in the representation of women apprentices, reaching up to 40% by the end of this year. He also emphasizes the importance of integrating an Apprenticeship Credit Framework aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), a move that promises to revolutionize India's education and vocational training landscape.

Harmonizing with the existing National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) will enable seamless transitions for student trainees across different programs and educational levels, streamlining the apprenticeship experience and fostering inclusivity and efficiency within the apprenticeship network.

These reforms not only address the current talent shortage but also contribute significantly to India's journey towards becoming a global skill capital.

The manufacturing sector is setting a precedent for a future where skill development & apprenticeship programs are more accessible and aligned with the evolving demands of the global workforce. This ensures the availability of a skilled workforce ready to tackle the dynamic challenges of the global economy.

About 70 percent of women apprentices in the manufacturing sector come from rural and semi-urban areas, highlighting the significant opportunity for empowering women through skill development and vocational training programs.

Government initiatives such as the Skill India Mission and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's Vocational Training Program for Women play a significant role in facilitating this transition and bridging the skill gap across various sectors.

“Previously, the requirement for women apprentices ranged from 1,000-2,000 per month, but it has now escalated to as high as 10,000 to 12,000 per month. Consequently, the share of female apprentices in recruitment has seen a substantial uptick, rising from 10-15 percent to 45-50 percent”, said Sumit.

Despite the absence of gender-specific budget allocations in various schemes, training programs have been tailored with unique initiatives aimed at women to stimulate their participation in the skill ecosystem. Moreover, the budget allocation for women's training through the National Skill Training Institutes has witnessed a substantial increase, underscoring the growth in skill development initiatives.

With concerted efforts from both the industry and the government, the surge in demand for women apprentices in the manufacturing sector will empower women and bridge the skill gap.

Sumit’s insights on the representation of women in the manufacturing sector was published by multiple news agencies including the Press Trust of India, The Economic Times, and Business Standard.

Interested to know more about apprenticeships and the 3-fold business benefits of this workforce development program? Contact us