Women from tier 2 cities and beyond dominating the job market

With an increase in the number of women joining the workforce, the doors of financial freedom and self-sufficiency have also opened. Women from all over the country are seizing all opportunities and choosing job roles that were hitherto dominated by their male counterparts.  In the year 2022, jobs and professional networking platform, apna witnessed more than 31 million professional conversations among women from Tier 1, Tier 2, and beyond cities with an overall 36% YoY increase in women users on the platform. As per the report, apna saw around an 80% increase in the number of new women users on its platform.

A record-high demand for women workers

By recruiting more women, companies hope to foster diverse workforces, inclusive workplaces, and an overall culture of equity. The report further suggests that apna has seen a 2.5x increase in job postings for part-time jobs on the platform along with a 3x surge in job postings for full-time jobs. Companies like Paytm, Zomato, Rapido, and Swiggy among others, have been among the top partners posting maximum jobs for women to diversify their workplaces. Apart from tier 1 cities like Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai, job postings in tier 2 cities like Indore have seen a 28% YoY surge, while Chandigarh and Lucknow have seen a 15% increase each.

Women redefine norms by entering unconventional roles

While women have been taking up job roles in all sectors, they have also started opting for unconventional roles for flexibility and better income opportunities. Interestingly, labor-intensive roles such as delivery, lab technicians, factory workers, and drivers saw a 34% increase in job applications, coming in exclusively from women. apna also saw a 67%  growth in job applications from women for part-time jobs vis-a-vis a 34% increase in full-time jobs. There has also been an increase in the number of women applying for night shifts, to the tune of a whopping 60%, a move away from trends witnessed earlier. apna has become a safe haven for them to have professional conversations and interactions with industry peers

Tier 2 markets dominant in terms of participation from female workers

With the changing workforce dynamic, women’s participation in the workforce is not only limited to tier 1 cities. Women from tier 2 cities have been enthusiastically participating to be a part of the workforce. Cities like Chandigarh and Lucknow topped the list in terms of the highest number of job applications received from women across tier 2 cities with a 71% and a 55% YoY increase in the year 2022 respectively. Most job applications from women were received in categories like telecalling, BPO, and back office. In 2022, women from tier 2 and beyond cities engaged in about 10 million professional conversations on the platform.

“apna has always remained committed towards empowering women, helping them in achieving their dreams. 2022 has demonstrated that female users are not just looking for jobs out of necessity but to be financially independent, and to create their own identities in the increasingly competitive job market. In fact in 2022, 60% more women applied for night shift jobs, demonstrating that apna has earned the trust of women and is their preferred platform.” Manas Singh, Chief Business Officer, apna.co, said in a statement.

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