State of Women in the Blue-Grey Collar Workforce 2025

The report, conducted by the Udaiti Foundation along with Quess Corp, surveys around 10,000 current and 1,500 former women workers in sectors like retail, manufacturing, BFSI, and services.

Current Workforce Trends

• Over half of women workers with less than a year of experience intend to resign within a year.
• Attrition rates drop to 3% for those employed for more than two years.

Challenges Faced

• Structural issues: Poor pay, mobility issues, safety concerns, and limited growth opportunities push women out of the workforce prematurely.
• Pay dissatisfaction: 54% of women are unhappy with their income.
• Low savings: 80% save less than ₹2,000 monthly.
• Transport issues: 57% face commuting challenges, with 11% feeling unsafe, especially at night.
• Workplace safety: 22% feel unsafe at work; this increases to 33% in areas lacking infrastructure such as CCTV.
• Lack of career growth: 21% cite unclear advancement paths as a reason for leaving.

Impact of Systemic Deterrents

• 67% of women who quit remain out of work due to systemic issues.
• Only 11% pursue skill-based training, indicating a mismatch between aspirations and opportunities.

Retention Strategies

• Enhancing pay: Women earning over ₹20,000 are 21% less likely to drop out.
• Safer mobility: Improving transport options could encourage women to stay.
• Upgraded infrastructure: Better workplace facilities can address safety and growth concerns.
• Inclusive workplace culture: Addressing manager behavior and providing grievance redressal systems.

Conclusion: Addressing these challenges is not only a social need but also crucial for building a competitive economy by enabling women in grey and blue-collared roles to thrive.