Women’s Applications for Leadership Roles Jump 35% in 2025
According to the newly released “India at Work 2025” report by Apna.co, India’s leading jobs and careers platform, the country recorded a staggering 9 crore job applications in 2025, representing a 29% year-on-year (YoY) increase.
The data paints a picture of a workforce that is becoming more geographically distributed, digitally native, and inclusive.
The surge in activity was largely driven by two key demographics: women and early-career professionals, as service-led hiring expanded aggressively into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Job Applications Report: The Rise of the Female Leader
One of the most significant findings in the 2025 report is the deepening participation of women in the formal economy.
Women contributed over 3.8 crore applications, a massive 36% increase compared to 2024.
While Tier 1 cities remained hubs with 2 crore applications, emerging markets in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities accounted for 1.8 crore, showing 30% growth.
Notably, women are no longer just entering the workforce; they are climbing it.
Applications for managerial and senior positions crossed 1.1 crore, marking a 35% YoY increase.
This shift was accompanied by a 22% rise in median salaries for women, particularly in high-growth sectors like BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), healthcare, and e-commerce.
SMBs and Enterprises: Decentralizing the Job Map
Hiring activity remained robust on the employer side, with 14 lakh jobs posted—a 15% increase from the previous year.
- SMB Dominance: Small and Medium Businesses remained the backbone of job creation, contributing 10 lakh postings (up 11% YoY). Cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, and Indore emerged as major hiring hubs as local enterprises formalized their operations.
- Enterprise Expansion: Larger corporations posted 4 lakh roles, a 14% increase. Major recruiters, including Wipro Enterprises, Tata 1mg, and Ola Electric, focused their expansion on non-metro markets to tap into regional talent pools.
The AI Revolution in Job Applications
2025 marked the year AI became a “practical layer” in the Indian hiring ecosystem.
To bridge the interview readiness gap—where only 32% of candidates previously felt prepared—Apna’s AI Job Prep tool became a mainstream success.
The report recorded over 73 lakh AI interview sessions totaling 1.9 crore minutes.
For employers, the adoption of AI Calling Agents by over 6,000 companies saved the equivalent of nearly 4 years of manual recruiter calling time.
Candidates showed high interest in preparing for roles at global giants such as Google, Tesla, and Microsoft, reflecting high aspirations across all city tiers.
Freshers and the Service Shift
The entry-level market showed sustained demand, with fresher applications crossing 2.2 crore (a 10% YoY increase).
Interestingly, candidate preferences have shifted away from field-intensive roles toward structured service positions in digital operations, finance, and administrative services.
With nearly 1 crore young people joining the workforce annually, this “fresher surge” is critical to India’s goal of leveraging its demographic dividend.
Kartik Narayan, CEO of Jobs Marketplace at Apna.co, summarized the year’s momentum: “The 2025 data reflects a workforce that is more distributed, more skilled, and more aspirational. AI has moved from a buzzword to a tool that provides transparency and accessibility at scale.”
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