Breaking the mold: Women's job preferences challenge traditional career norms, study finds

Career advancement and competitive salary are the topmost factors for 69 per cent of salaried women while selecting a job, according to a study undertaken by DBS Bank and CRISIL.

Salaried women seeking a stable income consider career growth as the topmost factor while picking a job, with 38 per cent choosing this option. This is followed by a competitive salary with 31 per cent of respondents choosing this option, followed by work-life balance and job security with 12 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.

Interestingly, remote working is not a high priority among salaried women, with only 3 per cent considering it essential.


Meanwhile, 42 per cent of self-employed women prioritise independence and flexible working hours in their career.

In addition to this, focusing on wealth building and identifying a specific market need or opportunity for starting a business ranked as the other top parameters for self-employed women.

Furthermore, it was found that a higher percentage of unmarried women (79 per cent) prioritize career advancement and competitive salary when choosing a job, in contrast to their married counterparts (66 per cent). Additionally, 14 per cent of married women cited work-life balance as a key factor in job selection, compared to only 6 per cent of unmarried women.

Importance of pay as a parameter declines with age

The study that was conducted across 10 major cities in India revealed that among those aged 25-35 years, 34 per cent prioritise competitive salary, compared with only 15 per cent of those over 45 years.


Job selection criteria for women in different cities

At the national level, career growth (38 per cent) and competitive salary (31 per cent) were the top two parameters while selecting a job. In Delhi, a comparable pattern was noticed, with a greater emphasis on career growth (48 per cent) and competitive salary (38 per cent). Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, women gave prime importance to career growth (60 per cent) and work-life balance (20 per cent).

In Ahmedabad, 38 per cent of women considered job security as the foremost job selection parameter, in contrast to the national average of 11 per cent. In Kolkata, 46 per cent of women considered a competitive salary as the most critical parameter while selecting a job.


Participation of women in the corporate is increasing

An analysis of 950 listed companies in India reveals interesting data about women representation in the workforce and boards of directors. There has been a noticeable 100 bps rise in the percentage of female employees in Indian corporates over fiscals 2020-2022, said the report.

However, gender diversity varies across sectors, with healthcare and airline leading at 48 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively, while sugar and tyre have the lowest diversity at 1 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.