
Only 1 out of 5 blue and grey collar workers is a woman, high attrition a huge challenge: Report
This was stated in the study 'State of women in the blue-grey collar workforce 2025', released by the Udaiti Foundation in partnership with Quess Corp Limited.
The blue and grey-collar workforce is a segment that forms the backbone of industries like manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare, and financial services.
Drawing from surveys with over 10,000 current and 1,500 former women workers across sectors like retail, manufacturing, BFSI, and services, this study points out that 52% of women with less than one year of experience plan to quit within the next 12 months, compared to just 3% among those who cross the two-year mark, underscoring the need for interventions to arrest attrition at an early stage.

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Low wages are holding women back from formal employment – 54 per cent of blue- and grey-collar women employees are unhappy with their pay and 80 per cent saving nothing or less than Rs 2,000 per month, according to a new report. 'Income is a make-or-break factor driving women's exit from the blue-grey collar workforce,' the report by Quess Corp, India's largest staffing firm, and the Udaiti Foundation, said. 'Women already face steep opportunity costs to join the workforce. Inadequate wages that ignore local realities simply drive them out,' it added, flagging a 'clear gap between minimum wage and living wage'. The need to align minimum wage with real living costs has also gained traction among top policymakers. The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, for instance, is discussing the concept of a living wage, which factors in expenditure on health and education that is currently excluded from minimum wage calculations. 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'Costs are higher in Tier 1 cities, but 1 in 5 women earn below INR 20,000, which is typically the stipulated minimum wage… Those earning above INR 20,000 are 21% less likely to drop out in the near term, showing that better pay supports retention,' it said. Quess provides staffing and outsourcing services to over 3,000 clients across sectors like retail, IT, manufacturing, and banking. At the launch of the report on July 24, Gurnani said, 'Conceptually, it's very good if you go beyond nutrition, housing, and clothing, which are currently counted for minimum wage, to expenditure on health and education, which is proposed.' 'From a women's perspective, it is very important because the care model, like childcare, is going to cost them. (Inclusion of health and education) will reduce the opportunity cost that women face when they come out to work,' she said. Gurnani added that the ministry is figuring out how to 'do this in a diverse setting because things vary from state to state'. 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'There are 54 laws that actually prohibit women from participating in the workforce. Among them are the night shift laws, which are now being removed state by state,' said Pooja Sharma Goyal, founding CEO of Udaiti Foundation. 'What happens when you dismantle night shift laws is that the private company becomes responsible for ensuring a woman's safety on her way home at night. That includes providing transport. Now, many large companies are able to provide that, while the small ones are not. Those are some of the nuances we need to start thinking about,' she told The Indian Express. Industrial hubs draw more women According to Guruprasad Srinivasan, CEO of Quess Corp, a state's industrial base – particularly its manufacturing strength – is a key driver of higher female workforce participation. 'Tamil Nadu hosts many large, modern electronics and manufacturing units, followed by states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. With higher workforce participation in manufacturing, these states naturally absorb more women workers,' Srinivasan said. 'High finger dexterity and hand-to-eye coordination are areas where women tend to do well. We test these skills, and more women pass than men. So naturally, there's demand for them in sectors like electronics and auto manufacturing. The semiconductors sector is another space to watch,' he said. Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More