# What is the Female Labour Share Across India’s Major Industries? The Data Tells a Striking Story

URL: https://technosports.co.in/female-labour-share-india-major-industries/  
Published: 2026-09-11  
Updated: 2026-09-11  
Author: Rahul Roy

India’s manufacturing sector reveals a deeply uneven gender pattern — some industries are overwhelmingly female-driven, while others remain almost entirely male-dominated.

## Female Labour-Dominated Industries

At the top of the list sits **[tobacco manufacturing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_industry)**, where women make up a staggering **93.4%** of the workforce, compared to just 6.6% men. This is largely driven by bidi-making, one of India’s most labour-intensive cottage industries.

**Apparel manufacturing** follows with **64.7% female participation**, making it one of the largest formal employers of women in the country. **Textiles** sit closer to gender parity, with women accounting for **47.9%** of workers against 52.1% men.

> Share of Female Labour in India’s Major Industries👩🇮🇳  
>   
> Tobacco — Female: 93.4% | Male: 6.6%  
>  Apparel — Female: 64.7% | Male: 35.3%  
>  Textile — Female: 47.9% | Male: 52.1%  
>  Other Manufacturing — Female: 27.0% | Male: 73.0%  
>  Chemicals — Female: 26.5% | Male: 73.5%  
>  Leather —…
>
> — The Indian Index (@IndianIndex) [September 9, 2026](https://x.com/IndianIndex/status/2097650223023894876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## The Gender Gap Widens Elsewhere

Beyond these three sectors, the numbers shift sharply in favor of male employment:

| Industry | Female Share | Male Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tobacco | 93.4% | 6.6% |
| Apparel | 64.7% | 35.3% |
| Textile | 47.9% | 52.1% |
| Other Manufacturing | 27.0% | 73.0% |
| Chemicals | 26.5% | 73.5% |
| Leather | 26.3% | 73.7% |
| Electronics | 13.8% | 86.2% |
| Electrical Equipment | 11.6% | 88.4% |
| Auto Ancillaries | 9.5% | 90.5% |
| Auto | 7.4% | 92.6% |
| Machinery | 6.8% | 93.2% |

## What This Reveals

The data highlights a clear pattern: industries requiring manual, low-wage labour — like tobacco and apparel — employ far more women, while capital-intensive, technically skilled sectors like auto, machinery, and electronics remain heavily male-dominated. Notably, several studies have also found that female-heavy sectors like tobacco and apparel tend to offer significantly lower average wages, raising deeper questions about pay equity within India’s industrial workforce.

**Read more: [Oscar Bruzon’s Explosive Allegations Rock East Bengal: Inside the “Master” Controversy](https://technosports.co.in/oscar-bruzon-east-bengal-master-controversy/)**