Women In Real Estate Sector: How To Achieve More Inclusivity

Real estate in India remains a major contributor to the country’s GDP as well as economic and developmental growth. However, despite the country’s population being 48.5% women, only approximately 1.2% of the female population is employed in the real estate sector. Whether at the grassroots level or the top management, women make up a significantly small number (of 70 lakh) among the 7.1 crore workers employed in the industry. For a real estate company in Noida and similar major cities, these numbers show a lack of inclusivity and representation. 

Industry leaders admit to this disparity being a glaring issue and acknowledge that the real estate sector can greatly benefit from more inclusivity. Even in the best real estate developers in India, gender imbalance in the workforce is apparent and requires higher accountability on the management’s part. While segments like design and marketing have higher numbers of female employees, construction and asset management have much lower representation. 

The conversation on employing more women into the real estate sector is taking place in boardrooms, but reports have found quite a few obstacles that limit the entry or progress of women in real estate. Let us take a look at what these challenges are and what can be done to overcome them. 

Challenges Faced By Women 

As a predominantly male-dominated sector, Indian real estate has not been conducive to the entry of women into its workforce due to social and cultural biases. Whether it’s the best real estate developers in India or smaller realty agencies, female employment for tasks like fieldwork or construction has been low due to safety and comfort concerns. Due to pre-existing assumptions that women prefer flexible schedules and familiar environments, employment opportunities for them are even fewer. 

Another issue that makes women hesitant to join the workforce is the pay disparity where many female workers felt like they were being paid less for the same work as men. Another factor that contributes to this disparity is the social conditioning of women wherein they are hesitant to speak up to ask for what they are worth. While this gap is present in various industries, it is quite evident in real estate. Additionally, female workers were reported to receive no or lesser training or opportunities to upskill themselves compared to their male counterparts, resulting in an inability to rise in ranks and learn more. 

Initiatives To Close The Gap 

In recent years, there has been a shift in outlook, and more initiatives are being put in place to ensure higher employment and retention of women in the workforce. While it is still a work in progress, the best real estate companies in India are creating avenues for equal opportunities and gender-agnostic benchmarking which prioritises qualifications and achievements rather than focussing on gender. 

In Delhi NCR, women are opting to work at a real estate company in Noida or a construction company in Gurugram as urban areas are witnessing an increased initiative to reduce the pay gap as compared to smaller cities. Industry leaders are also investing in training and mentorship programmes that will help promote equality in the workplace. 

In conclusion, while the real estate sector is growing at a rapid rate, women still make up a small portion of the workforce. There still remain challenges such as gender and social biases, pay disparity, and lack of opportunities to upskill. However, leaders in the best real estate companies in India are optimistic that with sustained efforts and commitment, gender diversity will soon not be the target but the norm. These efforts are expected to showcase inclusivity on all levels and help every real estate company in Noida, Delhi, and all over the country see a rise in female workers.