Tech Upskilling Key Focus for 87% of India's Female Workforce: Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study

With the rapid evolution of the job market driven by technological advancements, the Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study 2023 brings to light a striking trend 87% of female professionals are actively seeking upskilling opportunities in technology-based programmes. The study, across 20 Indian tier-I and II cities, conducted by Emeritus, a global leader in world-class professional education highlights the proactive efforts of women in leveraging educational opportunities to navigate the challenges posed by the changing employment landscape driven by tech disruptions.

In correspondence to this growing interest among women to upskill in technology, almost on par with men (88%), the study found that women at the C-Suite level were willing to spend more out of pocket than men on their further education. Female CXOs were found willing to spend on average USD 10,000 (roughly INR 8.45 lakh) on further education within the next year, nearly USD 1,500 (roughly INR 1.25 lakh) more than male CXOs. This data shows a distinctive trend where women are priming themselves to be frontrunners in the rapidly evolving tech-driven industries.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), women make up only about 26% of AI job roles worldwide. As per Skillsoft’s 2022 Women in Tech report, 60% of the women surveyed say that men outnumber them in their organization for leadership roles at ratios of 2-to-1 or greater. This disparity and the gap can be diminished only through the upskilling of women in the tech sector. Female participants across various seniority levels, including junior management (34%), middle management (27%), senior management (21%), and owners (38%), expressed the highest willingness to invest in the US$100-US$399 (roughly INR 8,000 to 34,000) price range for upskilling in a year. Conversely, those at the C-Suite level (32%) demonstrated a slightly greater inclination to spend on higher-cost upskilling programmes, between US$ 10,000 - US$50,000.

Among the primary motivations for upskilling among women and men across seniority levels, as observed from the study, were increasing self-confidence, developing leadership skills, job security and staying abreast of the latest knowledge in the field. The Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study 2023 also revealed that while the male workforce increasingly prefers shorter programmes (the majority willing to spend up to 2-3 months on a programme), female professionals across seniority levels, stand out for their readiness to dedicate 4-6 months for upskilling.

Commenting on the findings from the Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study 2023, Mohan Kannegal, CEO, India and APAC, Emeritus, said, "These gender-based insights from the Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study 2023 underscore the remarkable enthusiasm of female professionals in embracing upskilling opportunities. It is evident that women are keen to position themselves as leaders in the tech-driven job market. The data reflects a strategic approach, with women at various seniority levels dedicating significant time and resources to stay ahead in dynamic industries. We, at Emeritus, are glad to be a part of the upskilling revolution in the country. By partnering with leading educational institutions around the world, we are able to bring world-class education to India’s cities and towns".The study surveyed a total of 1,720 Indians aged between 21 and 65 years, hailing from across 20 tier-I and II cities in India. The average age of the respondents was 39, and the average work experience was 12 years.