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New ILO report urges action to remove systemic barriers and empower women in one of India’s largest employment sectors.
Despite employing more than 71mn people and contributing 9% to India’s GDP, the construction sector continues to be male dominated. Women remain sidelined by systemic barriers, wage gaps, and limited access to career advancement opportunities.
At the Inclusion and Competitiveness Summit in Mumbai on 30 April 2025, International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Employers’ Federation of India (EFI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), launched a new report titled Beyond Barriers and Biases – Engendering the Indian Construction Industry. The report lays bare the gender disparities in the sector and outlines a clear outline for change.
Highlights of the report are as follows:
A tough climb for women in construction
While women in India are graduating in growing numbers from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, their presence in the construction workforce remains low at just 12%. Even fewer rise to leadership, with only 2% occupying senior management roles.
For many women, the reality is a cycle of low-skilled, low-paid work. The report finds that women earn an average daily wage of INR412, with those in the informal sector facing even steeper disadvantages of earning 30-40% less than men doing similar work.
Recommendations for a path forward
To shift the landscape, the report calls for action across multiple levels. Among its key recommendations:
- Education and industry partnerships: Institutions offering Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), alongside universities, can collaborate with the industry to highlight career opportunities, provide mentoring, and host job fairs spotlighting successful female professionals.
- Stronger policy and governance: Government bodies are urged to implement gender-sensitisation programmes and prioritise safety through better-lit workspaces, increased patrolling, and improved policing.
- Enterprise-level interventions: Employers can make a tangible impact by investing in workplace facilities such as crèches, clean and safe sanitation, and protective equipment tailored for women.
With coordinated efforts from educators, employers, policymakers, and communities, India’s construction industry can become a place where talent and not gender defines success.
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