Women's workplace roles decline at mid management

A study on Indian workplace trends reveals that women’s share falls 11% at the mid-management transition point. Data shows women fill 28% of individual-contributor roles, yet they occupy just 22% of frontline manager roles and 17% of mid-management positions.

The report, titled “The Missing Middle: Redesigning how women build and sustain career momentum,” was conducted by Great Place To Work India and represents 22+ lakh employee voices across 20+ industries. It identifies the collision zone between career stage and life stage as a major design challenge that organizations must solve.

The study found that women make up 1 in 4 employees of the Indian workforce, yet talent leakage occurs through every level, with only 16% holding executive seats. This mid-career squeeze happens when life stages coincide with career stages and caregiving peaks and flexibility needs rise.

Best Workplaces lead on women’s experience across aspects by at least 7%, including 11% on access to unique benefits, 7% on training and development, and 8% on fair pay and work-life balance. Additionally, 84% of women at Best Workplaces believe they have special and unique benefits at their workplace.

The report showcases a three-step lifecycle approach to enable women’s careers: Attract & Hire, Grow, and Retain. This approach includes building equitable hiring systems, creating pathways for women’s growth, and providing flexible work models and robust support during caregiving and career transitions.

Great Place To Work India officially announced the organizations recognized as India’s Best Workplaces for Women 2026, across Large and Mid-size categories. Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work India, said, “Women continue to be a critical part of India’s workforce, accounting for nearly a quarter of the workforce.”

Balbir Singh emphasized the need for stronger career continuity, sponsorship, and support systems to help women advance into leadership and contribute meaningfully to organizational success. He congratulated India’s Best Workplaces for Women 2026 for setting the benchmark and creating environments where women can flourish and help shape the future.

By redesigning career paths, workplace practices, and leadership behaviors, organizations can help women sustain career momentum, especially when career and life demands intersect. This can be achieved by providing longevity to women’s careers and enabling them through key career and life-stage transitions.