To say that gender pay gap is universal is hardly an exaggeration with figures dangerously favouring males in nearly all industries and roles.
Gender continues to be a significant parameter in determining salaries in India, as men earned a median gross hourly salary of Rs 345.8, whereas women earned Rs 259.8, a survey has showed.
Median Hourly Wage by Age & Gender
Based on the data for the eight sectors covered by this report, the overall gender pay gap in India amounts to 25% in 2016. The largest gender pay gap in 2016 was found in the Transport, logistics, and communication (42.4%). The lowest was recorded in the Education and research, where women earned 3.4% more than men.
Sectorial overview
Information and Communication Technology Services
• The average gender pay gap of 38.2% is one of the widest observed in this report. Women earn Rs142.5 less per hour than men.
Financial Services, Banking and Insurance
• The gender pay gap in the financial services, banking and insurance sector amounts to 21.5%. On average, men earn an hourly median wage of Rs346.4 and women Rs272.
Education and Research
• In the education and research sector, the gender pays gap amounts to 14.7% on average. The gender pay gap increased again from 19.2% and 13.1% in 2014 and 2015, respectively, to -3.4% in 2016
Healthcare, Caring services, and Social Work
• On average, a 22.6% gender gap exists in the healthcare, caring services, and social work sector. Male employees earned Rs242.4, female employees Rs187.6 per hour.
Construction and Technical Consultancy
•. On an average, men earned Rs52.2 more than women in this sector. Thus, there is a gender pay gap of 18.1%.
Legal and Market Consultancy and Business Activities
• On average, the gender pay gap in the legal and market consultancy and business activities sector is 27.5% (Rs73.9) per hour. Women earn Rs195.0, men Rs268.9.
Transport, Logistics and Communications
• Professionals in the transport, logistics and communications sector earn similar wages on average. Women remain underpaid by 5.2%.
Why Gender Pay gap exists?
Some reasons behind this gap could be “preference for male employees over female employees, preference for the promotion of male employees to supervisory positions (the glass ceiling), career breaks of women due to parenthood duties, and other socio-cultural factors.
There is a dire need for tangible initiatives to bridge this pay gap by removing structural impediments to women’s growth providing access to skills training, jobs and decision-making.
Shattering the glass ceiling
Several women hold key leadership positions, earning enviable salaries in jobs in India in various industry sectors, taking up new challenges, and empowering their teams to come up with the best possible solutions. With thousands of people reporting to them, these women are a force to reckon with in the business.
Why hire women?
Women are unique in many ways as they come with stronger social values, ethos, diversity, resilience, and the determination to not settle for anything but the best. They bring a unique perspective and approach to any challenge. The skills and expertise of women is essential to India’s economic recovery and growth. Optimising women’s productivity, creativity and energy is a win-win game for enterprises, workers, governments and societies.