The Hindu Editorial Analysis
15 July 2025
Women, STEM careers and a more receptive industry
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education
Context
World Youth Skills Day on July 15 highlights the cost of not investing in women’s STEM potential.
Introduction
Every year on July 15, World Youth Skills Day reminds us that skill development is key to tackling unemployment and ensuring decent work. India faces a stark paradox: while women make up 43% of STEM graduates—the highest among major economies—they account for only 27% of the STEM workforce, missing out on vital career opportunities.
- India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) rose to 41.7% in 2023-24 (PLFS), marking significant progress after prolonged stagnation.
- The rise is more prominent among rural women (47.6%) than urban women (25.4%), indicating persistent challenges in formal employment, workplace safety, and social norms.
- In STEM fields, the gender gap is even more visible:
- Only 31.5% of researchers globally are women (UNESCO, 2021).
- This education-to-employment gap highlights systemic barriers that industry is particularly well-placed to address.
- The economic impact of bridging this gap is substantial:
- McKinsey estimates that adding 68 million women to India’s workforce could raise GDP by up to $700 billion by 2025.
- World Bank projects that achieving 50% female workforce participation could boost GDP growth by 1%.
Government vision and STEM skilling
- NEP 2020 – STEM Access: The New Education Policy has strengthened retention and opportunities in STEM fields by promoting integrated and flexible learning pathways.
- Skill Integration – MoE Initiative: The Ministry of Education (MoE) has embedded skills development and life skills training into mainstream education to enhance employability.
- Vocational Training – Rural Reach: Renewed focus on revamping ITIs and expanding vocational skilling is bringing quality technical education to villages and small towns, ensuring wider access.
- Viksit Bharat – Inclusive Development: These reforms support the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, placing women’s economic mobility at the heart of inclusive growth.
- Gender Budget – Increased Allocation: The gender budget share rose from 6.8% (2024–25) to 8.8% (2025–26), with ₹4.49 lakh crore earmarked for gender-focused programmes.
- Union Budget 2025–26 – Women Empowerment: Key provisions include:
- Term loans for women entrepreneurs
- Establishment of new National Skill Training Institutes
- Boost to technology-led skilling initiatives
- Policy Framework – Supportive Ecosystem: National missions like Skill India, Digital India, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana reflect strong policy intent for women’s empowerment.
- Industry Role – Active Participation Needed: Government efforts must be matched by industry action, shifting from being a passive recruiter to an active enabler of women’s career growth and transitions.
Industry as the missing link
- Industry’s Role – Bridging the Gap: The private sector is essential in closing the gap between skilling and employment, particularly for women in technical fields.
- Social Norms – Invisible Barriers: Deep-rooted stereotypes like “mechanical is masculine” or “coding isn’t for girls” continue to create unseen barriers for skilled women.
- Research Evidence – Global Findings: Studies by the World Bank and UNESCO confirm that gendered perceptions restrict women’s participation in STEM and technical trades.
- Retention Challenges – Workplace Environment: Women don’t exit STEM due to lack of ability, but due to:
- Unwelcoming workplaces
- Limited family awareness of career options
- Gendered expectations around roles and responsibilities
- Key Enablers – Holistic Support: Addressing the gap requires:
- Challenging gender biases
- Ensuring workplace safety
- Providing equitable pay
- Supporting career transitions during life events like marriage, childbirth, and caregiving
- Private Sector Action – Proactive Engagement: Increasingly, companies are investing in:
- Mentorship programmes
- Industry-linked training
- Partnerships with educational institutions to enable smooth transitions from classrooms to careers
- WeSTEM Programme – Inclusive Skilling:
- A joint effort by UN Women, state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and the Micron Foundation
- Provides technical skills training and helps bridge the STEM talent gap
- Engages families and community leaders, promotes workplace safety, and introduces female role modelsto reshape mindsets
- Mindset Shift – Beyond Skills: Effective skill-building must be paired with a cultural transformation that challenges stereotypes and empowers women across the ecosystem.
Conclusion: A blueprint for industry leadership
Collaborations between industry and academic institutions, guidance programs that connect professionals with learners, and workplace strategies that support life changes and prioritize safety can help close the gap between education and employment. The real question is not whether India can bear the cost of supporting women in STEM careers—but whether businesses can afford the consequences of inaction. By providing women and girls with the necessary competencies and practical training to thrive in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, we move toward a society that is both inclusive and resilient. When a woman earns, her influence reverberates through households, production lines, decision-making forums, and entire sectors. Within her empowered voice lies the foundation of a future-ready India.