Women in Services Sector: Excellence Naturally

Beyond Barriers: Women Shaping the Future of the Services Sector

Women have long been the backbone of economic progress, contributing significantly across industries. Yet, despite their increasing participation in the workforce, leadership roles remain elusive. While female labour force participation has seen an increase in several countries, systemic challenges such as gender pay gaps, workplace biases and limited access to senior leadership roles continue to hinder true parity.

The Gender Gap in Services

As per International Labour Organization (ILO), globally, women earn about 20% less than men for the same work. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023 states that at the current pace, it will take 169 years to achieve economic gender equality. In the services sector, where women form a substantial share of the workforce, these disparities become even more pronounced.

The services sector is one of the fastest-growing industries globally, spanning finance, healthcare, technology, education, hospitality and media. In many ways, it has provided a comparatively accessible entry point for women, with flexible work arrangements and opportunities for career growth.

Key Challenges Women Face in the Services Sector

🔹 Underrepresentation in Leadership – Women hold less than 30% of senior management roles worldwide, and fewer than 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women

🔹 The Unpaid Work Burden – Women continue to bear a disproportionate share of unpaid care work, spending 2.5 times more hours on household responsibilities than men.

🔹 Entrepreneurship Barriers – Despite an increase in women-led businesses, only 2% of global venture capital funding goes to female founders.

Driving Change: Towards Gender-Inclusive Growth

To accelerate change, global institutions and governments are implementing policies aimed at closing gender gaps in employment and leadership. Organizations that prioritize diversity and inclusion not only foster equity but also see tangible benefits—companies with higher gender diversity in leadership outperform their peers by 15-35% in profitability and innovation.

Additionally, digital transformation and STEM education initiatives are opening new doors for women. With targeted mentorship programs, flexible work policies and greater access to capital for female entrepreneurs, the services sector can be the frontier for gender-inclusive growth.

CII Dialogue on Women in the Services Sector – “Excellence, Naturally“

Recognizing the urgency of these issues, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is organizing a Dialogue on Women in the Services Sector – “Excellence, Naturally” on March 5, 2025, at New Delhi.

This event will bring together industry leaders, policymakers and changemakers to discuss challenges and opportunities for women in services. Conversations will focus on climbing the corporate ladder, women in healthcare, entrepreneurship, skill development and the evolving role of women in governance.

The future of the global economy depends on harnessing the full potential of women in leadership. Join the engaging conversation.