New Delhi — A new analysis of employment data shows that women in India’s largest metropolitan areas receive higher average salaries and are more likely to hold regular, full‑time jobs than their counterparts in smaller towns, yet a persistent gender pay gap leaves men earning significantly more across the country.
The study, compiled by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) and reported by the Indian Express, examined wage and employment patterns for men and women aged 15‑64 in 2023. In the ten biggest cities—including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad—women’s average monthly earnings were about 12 % higher than the national average for women, while the proportion of women in regular, salaried positions was roughly 8 percentage points above the national figure. By contrast, women in smaller towns and rural districts earned about 15 % less than the city average and were more likely to be employed in irregular or informal work.
Despite these regional gains, men’s earnings continued to outpace women’s at every geographic level. Across all cities and towns, the gender pay gap stood at 22 % in 2023, meaning men earned roughly one‑fifth more than women for comparable work. The gap was widest in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where men’s average earnings were 28 % higher, and narrowest in Kerala, where the differential was 16 %.
Analysis:
The findings suggest that urban labour markets may offer women better job security and higher wages, likely due to a concentration of formal sector employers, greater availability of professional roles, and higher levels of education among city‑based women. However, the overall gender disparity points to structural issues that transcend location, such as occupational segregation, differences in work experience, and potential biases in hiring and promotion practices.
Economists note that even in cities where women’s average salaries exceed the national female average, the absolute wage levels remain lower than those earned by men in the same locales. For example, in Mumbai, women’s average monthly pay was ₹21,000, while men earned ₹27,000, reflecting a 22 % gap despite both groups benefiting from the city’s higher wage base.
Policy experts argue that targeted interventions—such as stricter enforcement of equal‑pay legislation, incentives for firms to adopt transparent pay structures, and expanded access to skill‑building programs for women—are needed to close the gap. The data also underscore the importance of expanding formal employment opportunities in smaller towns, where women are disproportionately represented in informal, lower‑paid work.
The report calls for continuous monitoring of gender‑based wage disparities, especially as India’s economy rebounds from pandemic‑related slowdowns and as more women enter the workforce in traditionally male‑dominated sectors.
Sources
Indian Express, “Biggest cities offer better salaries, more regular jobs for women, but stark gender disparity in income favours men,” https://indianexpress.com/article/india/biggest-cities-offer-better-salaries-more-regular-jobs-for-women-but-stark-gender-disparity-in-income-favours-men-10771853/
Story synopsis gathered from: Indian Express – India — source
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