India Inc turns more diverse for positions higher up the ladder

Women account for 23% of permanent employees, differently-abled less than 1%

- ANOUSHKA SAWHNE

Indian companies are more inclusive higher up the hierarchy than at the level of the ordinary worker, an analysis of EY India data shows.

Companies are more likely to reflect greater gender diversity among permanent employees, including those in managerial or administrative roles, than lower-rung workers. A similar trend is seen when it comes to inclusion of the differently abled. The analysis is based on data from 1,040 listed companies, collated from their annual reports by EY India and shared with Business Standard.

In the financial year 2022-23 (FY23), of the 7 million permanent employees in these firms, around 23 per cent were women. On the other hand, only 11 per cent of the 4.8 million permanent workers were women.

"Urgently, we must prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), upskill our workforce, and foster collaboration among all stakeholders," said Nitesh Mehrotra, partner, EY India, who deals with sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.