Top Industries Driving Female Apprenticeship Growth in India

India’s apprenticeship ecosystem is entering a decisive phase of gender inclusion. While 44% of employers planned to increase women apprentices, only 34–37% of graduating women were considered employable, highlighting a widening gap that structured, work-integrated learning models were increasingly expected to bridge.

This shift is clearly reflected in industry demand, with employers across sectors turning to apprenticeships to build future-ready female talent pipelines.

1. Solar & Renewable Energy

With 64% of employers having planned to increase female participation, the highest across sectors renewable energy is emerging as a key entry point for women into technical and analytical roles. Demand is rising for roles such as solar installation technicians, project coordinators, energy auditors, operations analysts, and ESG reporting professionals. Core skill requirements included electrical fundamentals, system monitoring, safety compliance, data analysis, and sustainability reporting.

How this sector is encouraging female apprenticeship: Backed by strong policy support and rapid technology adoption, clean energy offers clearly defined, structured roles making it one of the most scalable and sustainable sectors for women’s workforce participation

2. Semiconductor Manufacturing

As 61% of employers aimed to boost female engagement, semiconductor manufacturing is addressing deep technical talent shortages through structured talent pipelines. High-growth roles include fabrication technicians, quality control analysts, cleanroom operations specialists, equipment maintenance engineers, and process engineers. These roles require capabilities in electronics fundamentals, precision manufacturing, automation systems, quality assurance, and cleanroom protocols critical in a sector where women currently represent only 14–16% of STEM roles.

How this sector is encouraging female apprenticeship: With clearly defined technical roles and process-driven work environments, semiconductor manufacturing supports structured, hands-on learning. This enables women to gain specialised, industry-relevant skills while building sustainable careers in advanced manufacturing

3. IT & BPM

With the highest Net Apprenticeship Outlook (NAO) recorded at 88%, IT & BPM led demand for job-ready digital talent, building on a strong base where women account for 36% of the workforce. Growing roles span software testing, application support, data operations, cybersecurity monitoring, cloud operations, and business process analytics. In-demand skills include digital literacy, coding fundamentals, data handling, automation tools, and remote collaboration, making the sector highly scalable and accessible.

How this sector is encouraging female apprenticeship: The sector’s structured digital roles and strong focus on skill certification make it well-suited for apprenticeship models, enabling women to gain practical, job-ready tech experience and build sustainable careers in the digital economy.

4. Healthcare & Allied Services

Nearly 49% of employers planned to increase female hiring in healthcare, a sector that already demonstrated high female employability at 55–60%. Expanding roles include medical lab technicians, healthcare administrators, clinical data coordinators, pharmacy assistants, health IT support, and allied health professionals. Skill requirements focus on clinical protocols, patient management systems, regulatory compliance, and digital health tools.

How this sector is encouraging female apprenticeship: Healthcare’s clinical protocols, patient-facing roles, and growing use of digital health systems create structured, supervised training settings, enabling women to build practical care and health-tech skills for long-term careers.

5. Leather, Textiles & Apparel

Traditional manufacturing sectors saw 58% of employers aiming to increase female participation, alongside rapid formalisation of workforce entry. Demand rose for quality inspectors, production planners, merchandising coordinators, supply chain assistants, and compliance executives. Key skills included quality control, lean manufacturing, digital inventory systems, sustainability standards, and export compliance.

How this sector is encouraging female apprenticeship: As traditional manufacturing sectors modernise and adopt more formal, process-driven operations, they are creating structured, skill-based roles in production, quality, and supply chain, offering women clear career paths in safer, regulated workplaces.

6. Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI)

BFSI recorded a strong 84% NAO, with female employability at around 40%, reflecting steady demand for operational and compliance-oriented talent. High-growth roles include operations executives, compliance analysts, customer relationship managers, risk support professionals, and digital banking associates. Core skill sets span financial literacy, regulatory frameworks, data handling, digital platforms, and customer service.

How this sector is encouraging female apprenticeship: With digital transformation and regulatory growth, BFSI offers structured apprenticeships in operations, compliance, and digital banking, giving women hands-on experience and clear career pathways in a high-growth sector.

7. Retail & Sales

With a NAO of 78% recorded, retail remained a high-volume entry point for women into formal employment. Growing roles included store operations executives, supply chain coordinators, visual merchandising associates, customer experience managers, and e-commerce support professionals. Key skills included inventory management, digital POS systems, data-driven sales, customer engagement, and omnichannel operation

How this sector is encouraging female apprenticeship: With high-volume hiring and diverse roles, retail offers structured apprenticeships in store operations, supply chain, and customer experience. These programs provide women with hands-on exposure to sales, inventory, and digital tools, creating clear pathways for skill development and career growth.

In conclusion, industries with high technology intensity, structured training ecosystems, and policy alignment are clearly leading India’s shift toward female apprenticeships. Yet the real opportunity lies in execution at scale. Eliminating the gender gap in workforce participation has the potential to lift India’s GDP by 27%, underscoring that women’s inclusion is not merely a diversity goal but a macroeconomic growth imperative. As apprenticeship adoption accelerates across sectors, the next phase of growth will be defined by how effectively employers convert apprenticeship intent into sustained female employment, building resilient talent pipelines that powers both industry competitiveness and national economic progress.

By Dr Nipun Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship