Women Workforce in Information Technology and Inclusive Economic Growth: Insights from Pune

The Information Technology (IT) sector has emerged as a major driver of economic growth in India, generating employment, innovation, and urban development. Within this rapidly expanding sector, women’s participation has gained increasing attention due to its implications for inclusive economic growth and gender equity. This qualitative study explores the role of the women workforce in the IT sector in contributing to inclusive economic growth, with special reference to Pune city, one of India’s prominent IT hubs. Using in-depth interviews with women IT professionals, human resource managers, and industry experts, the study examines employment experiences, skill development, career progression, workplace challenges, and socio-economic outcomes. The findings reveal that women’s participation in the IT sector significantly enhances household income, human capital formation, and urban economic resilience. However, structural barriers such as gendered career paths, work-life balance pressures, limited leadership opportunities, and organizational biases continue to constrain the full realization of women’s economic potential. The study argues that inclusive economic growth in knowledge-driven economies requires not only increased female labor participation but also supportive institutional frameworks and gender-sensitive organizational practices. The paper contributes to the literature on gender, technology, and development by providing context-specific insights from Pune and offers policy recommendations for fostering gender-inclusive growth in urban IT ecosystems.