Friday, 28 Nov, 2025
Source: Freepik
The India Skills Report 2026 records women outperforming men in job-readiness, with female employability reaching 54%. Expanding access to digital skilling, hybrid roles, and sector-aligned training has played a central role in this shift.
The India Skills Report 2026 shows a major shift in the country’s workforce trends, with women surpassing men in job-readiness for the first time. According to the report, female employability has reached 54%, while the rate for men stands at 51.5%. The findings are part of the 13th edition of the report released by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and Taggd.
The report is based on inputs from over one lakh candidates who took the Global Employability Test and feedback from employers across seven sectors. While India’s overall employability has improved to 56.35% in 2026, the gender outcome is among the most notable developments this year.
The shift in women’s readiness is linked to rising participation in digital learning and hybrid work environments. Affordable online courses and flexible work arrangements have widened access for women, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Recruiters quoted in the report noted that women candidates are coming with stronger technical and communication skills, supported by digital skilling platforms and short-term certifications.
Hybrid work has also enabled more women to stay in or return to the workforce, with IT and banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) firms redesigning their policies to support diverse talent pools.
Data from the report shows rising female participation in BFSI, education, and healthcare. The findings also highlight changing preferences: women show higher interest in legal and healthcare roles, while men continue to dominate areas such as graphic design and engineering design. The report notes that this diversification is visible across cities, with tier-2 and tier-3 regions showing increased activity.
The broader skilling environment is being shaped by rapid technological change. Over 90% of employees across sectors use generative AI tools, and 70% of IT firms and 50% of BFSI organisations have adopted AI-based recruitment systems. These systems are increasingly used for training, screening, and job-role mapping.
The report also states that India now accounts for 16% of global AI talent, with the number expected to reach 1.25 million AI professionals by 2027. With 71% of Gen Z freelancers receiving AI training, the report points to a blended model of human-AI collaboration emerging within the workforce.
Even as women lead job-readiness metrics, the report notes that differences in employment outcomes remain. Experts quoted in the document pointed out that improved employability does not always translate into equal workplace opportunities. Concerns related to hiring practices, appraisal systems, and leadership representation continue to shape outcomes for women. However, organisations are beginning to adapt. Companies are introducing flexible roles, mentorship systems, and gender-neutral evaluation methods to support skilled women professionals.
The India Skills Report 2026 presents women’s improved employability as a major development within a workforce that is also experiencing rapid AI adoption, growth in gig roles, and rising participation from smaller cities. With women outperforming men in readiness indicators, the report highlights a major shift in India’s skilling pattern and the broader reorganisation of its talent pipeline.
