Only about 1% of India's gig internet workforce is women despite sector's rapid growth: Redseer report

While the country's monthly active gig internet workforce is expected to expand from over 6 million to 17 million to 21 million by 2030, women remain largely underrepresented in this fast-growing segment, according to a new report by Redseer Strategy Consultants.

The report, Gig Internet Workforce in India: Bridge to ~20 Million Livelihoods, reveals that women account for just around 1% of the country's gig internet workforce, even as the sector expands across food delivery, ride-hailing and home services.

According to the report, female participation has increased from around 0.5% in 2020 to nearly 1% in 2025, compared with an overall female workforce participation rate of 28% in India.

The sector is known for its flexible work arrangements and low barriers to entry, features that make it attractive to women who are looking to balance paid work with caregiving responsibilities. Yet there is a stark gender gap in workforce participation.

According to the report, women who participate in gig work are concentrated almost entirely in home services, particularly beauty and wellness. The report estimates that women account for 35-45% of workers in home services, while their presence in delivery and ride-hailing remains below 1%.

Making gig work more accessible to women

Despite the low participation, Redseer believes the gig economy has significant potential to draw more women into the labour force by removing several barriers that have traditionally kept them out of paid employment. It identifies four factors that could make platform work more accessible to women.

Unlike many formal jobs, gig work requires limited educational qualifications, minimal upfront investment, and no physical infrastructure to get started. Its flexible, self-determined schedules allow women to work around caregiving responsibilities, such as school pick-ups and household duties. 

Home-based and hyperlocal work options also reduce commute time, address safety concerns and make it easier to overcome family resistance. In addition, the rapid growth of gig segments such as beauty, wellness and caregiving aligns with skills that many women already possess through informal work and experience, making these sectors more accessible to them. 

The report also notes that gig platforms are expanding beyond metros into smaller cities, creating earning opportunities for first-time entrants to the workforce, women, and students. It adds that flexible work models and lower entry barriers could widen workforce participation among underrepresented groups, including women and persons with disabilities.

Overall, Redseer estimates that India currently has around 6 million monthly active gig internet workers; this number is expected to nearly triple to 17 million to 21 million by 2030. The sector could account for around 70% of India's annual non-farm job-creation requirement by the end of the decade.

The report also acknowledges that platforms will need to become more inclusive if they are to realise that potential.

While several platforms have introduced benefits such as health insurance, maternity benefits and period rest days, these remain available only on a limited basis. Accident insurance, emergency support, and skill development programmes are more widely offered. It also notes that digital literacy, targeted outreach, and efforts to address societal barriers to women's mobility can widen participation.