Linkedin Data: Indian Women Choose Entrepreneurship During Pandemic Due To Lack Of Internal Promotions In Senior Positions

By Priyadarshini Malavia Updated July 14, 2022 4:53 PM

According to recent LinkedIn statistics made public on Wednesday, even though Indian women are underrepresented in leadership positions in the workforce (18%), they are currently looking for more entrepreneurial possibilities than men. According to data from the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report, the proportion of female founders increased 2.68 times between 2016 and 2021 compared to 1.79 times for men. During the pandemic, in 2020 and 2021, female entrepreneurship growth rates were found to be the highest.

The statistics also showed that women are not promoted internally to leadership positions in businesses at the same rate as males, which is another factor contributing to their underrepresentation in leadership positions. Men are 42% more likely than women to be promoted into leadership roles. This may help to explain why, as women’s employment rates decline along the corporate ladder, they fall more behind their male peers in managerial career stages and in leadership positions. In India, the proportion of women in leadership positions has plummeted from 29% at the senior positions to a startling 18% at the management level.

Ruchee Anand, Senior Director, India Talent & Learning Solutions at LinkedIn said that one thing that can be inferred from their new data is that compared to men, working women in India face more impediments at work. She further added that despite the difficulties, many women are unfazed and continue to forge their own paths by switching to entrepreneurship and creating careers that give them more flexibility and freedom to work.

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According to sources, Anand further added that this was observed particularly in the pandemic years (2020 and 2021) when women started their own enterprises that also provided possibilities for other women in order to protect themselves from a contracting work market. The new information also demonstrates that progress is being made. Since 2015, the percentage of women hired into leadership positions has increased by 1.36 times, from 12% to 24% this year. However, more work needs to be done.

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In order to level the playing field for women and increase efficiency through balanced representation, variety of viewpoints, and inclusive leadership at work, Anand advised employers to keep in mind factors like internal mobility, fair hiring practices with a focus on skills, and flexibility. Furthermore, LinkedIn has made certain of its courses accessible for free until August 22 in an effort to promote female entrepreneurs and women in the workforce.