Women professionals in Indian semiconductor industry on a rise

Bengaluru, 10 March: Indian semiconductor sector will see increasing participation of women in coming years with increased number of upskilling initiatives.

In a report by HR consultancy firm- NLB Services, India’s fast-growing semiconductor sector is expected to reach $79.20 billion by FY2031, while the global industry is likely to be a trillion-dollar market by the end of the decade.

Against this backdrop, around 1 million jobs are likely to be created by 2026 as per the report.

“Currently, women comprise just a fourth of India’s 220,000-strong chip design and engineering workforce, but this figure is expected to surpass 30 per cent by 2027. Despite this, men continue to dominate key semiconductor roles,” the report said.

In the Chip Semiconductor Fabrication, men and women engage stands at 60:40 ratio (men to women); Chip Design is at 70:30, ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging) stands at 80:20, and so forth.

This gender gap in India’s semiconductor sector can be bridged through upskilling programs, pay parity, and inclusive employee benefits such as maternity leave, career break support, flexible work options, and project-based roles.

Commenting on the possible measures for bridging the gap, Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services said, “There is a need for both mindset and infrastructural shifts to increase the participation of women. This implies that gender-neutral policies and equal opportunities need to be prioritized.”

“Moreover, infrastructural shifts in the form of worker housing, healthcare facilities, and efficient transport will also play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining skilled workforce,” he added.

With these measures, women participation in the semiconductor industry can be improved to 35 per cent by 2030 from 25 per cent in 2025.