Promoting Diversity in Indian Workspace: An Overview

25 of January, 2023

With inclusion in the workplace being one of the main themes nowadays, diversity in India is a subject that has been neglected for some time. The Indian workforce is one of the most diverse in the world.

There are countless religions, cultures, and languages represented in India’s vast population. And, while this diversity can be a strength, it can also present challenges when it comes to promoting diversity in the workplace.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key issues facing employers when it comes to diversity in the Indian workplace. We’ll also explore some of the best practices for promoting diversity and inclusion in your business. You will see how HR reports can help you identify the diversity within your company as well.

The State of Gender and Racial Diversity in the Indian Workspace

The Indian workforce is one of the most diverse in the world, about that there is no doubt at all. There are over 1.3 billion people in India, and the workforce is made up of a number of different gender and racial groups.

According to a report by the World Bank, women make up just over half of the Indian workforce, while men account for around 45 percent. There is also a large percentage of workers who belong to minority groups who contribute for diversity in India. Including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Jains.

Women as workforce in India

When we talk about diversity in India, a lot can come into your mind, such a large number of races and ethnicities. The truth is that the diversity is also very related to the presence of women in the workspace.

The main work segments for these employees are agriculture, manufacturing, construction and services.

In agriculture, women account for almost 60 percent of the workforce, while in services they make up almost half of all employees. The percentage of women employed in manufacturing and construction is much lower, at around 25 percent and 15 percent respectively.

Main Segments Where Diversity in India Is Most Represented

When it comes to diversity in the Indian workplace, there are certain main segments where you’ll find the greatest representation. For example, in the engineering and technology sector, we have a good mix of men and women in leadership positions.

And while women still face some challenges in this field, they are making great strides. In fact, a recent study by NASSCOM found that the number of women engineering graduates had surpassed the number of men graduates for the first time ever.

Similarly, we see a good mix of gender diversity in India’s hospitality sector. And while there is still some progress to be made, the trend is moving in the right direction. For instance, over the last few years we’ve seen an increase in the number of women appointed to head hotels and restaurants.

Reasons Behind Low Representation of Women and Minorities in Certain Segments

Although there are a good many women and minorities in the Indian workforce, they are disproportionately represented in certain segments. The data below will give you an overview of the Indian workforce, by gender and race, and their employment in various segments.

This data is important to know, because it can help business owners and managers to understand why there is low representation of women and minorities in certain segments. It is also helpful to identify which segments offer the most potential for growth and development for women and minorities.

According to the data, women are most commonly employed in the education and health care sectors. They are also well-represented in the information technology sector. However, they are underrepresented in other key sectors, such as manufacturing, construction and transportation.

Minorities, on the other hand, are most commonly employed in the manufacturing, construction and transportation sectors. They are also well-represented in the information technology sector. However, they are underrepresented in other key sectors, such as education and health care.

Best Development Practices to Ensure Gender and Racial Equality

When it comes to promoting diversity in the Indian workplace, there are a number of best practices you should be following.

Firstly, ensure that your hiring process is fair and transparent. This means having clear job descriptions, stipulating the qualifications and abilities necessary for each role. Also, making sure all applicants are considered on merit rather than gender or race.

It’s also beneficial to offer universal access to learning opportunities, regardless of gender or race. For example, provide leadership programs for all levels of employees, as well as mentoring and apprenticeship schemes tailored to certain demographics.

Make sure that there is an approachable HR team who is responsive to any issues related to diversity and workplace harassment.

Finally, invest in the right HR software solutions such as Sesame HR that will enable visibility into employee data such as gender and racial representation throughout the organization. Having the right tools in place can help your company monitor, track and analyze its diversity initiatives over time.

The Role of Technology in Promoting Inclusive Workplace Cultures

As Indian companies strive to build a diverse workforce, they can opt for the use of technology to better capture, monitor and track diversity data. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can revolutionize the way we think about recruitment and diversity in Indian workplaces.

Technology can also be leveraged to foster inclusive workplace cultures and eliminate bias. This can be achieved by ensuring that job postings showcase equally qualified people regardless of their gender, race or other demographic attributes.

It can also promote diversity through online recruitment practices such as automated resume parsing which can help reduce biased applicant selection criteria, including those based on gender or race.

Conclusion

As we have discussed, there is a lot of diversity in Indian workplaces, with people from various genders and races working in a number of different sectors.

The most common work sector for Indian women is the service industry, while the most common work sector for Indian men is manufacturing. There are also a number of diversity-related issues that Indian businesses should be aware of and work to address.

You can keep track of all your employees and ensure that diversity within your organization is being promoted. Using HR software such as the one from Sesame HR will make it easier. It will allow you to centralize all of your employees’ data in one place. You can try for yourself for free right now.