This policy brief is based on a Roundtable Conversation hosted by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) to foster dialogue on women’s participation in the manufacturing sector workforce. Held under the ongoing Economic Policies for Women-led Development (EPWD) programme, the roundtable informed the brief’s analysis of current trends and future opportunities for enhancing female employment in India’s manufacturing industry. It highlights the underlying causes of the persistent gender gap in the formal sector and applies a gender perspective to assess sectoral and regional labour market differences. Drawing on stakeholder inputs from the roundtable and insights from field visits to both large and small manufacturing units, the brief offers targeted policy recommendations to increase women’s participation by addressing challenges at the sector, firm, and regional levels. It provides a practical roadmap for policymakers, businesses, and civil society to advance gender diversity in the manufacturing ecosystem.
