Skilled women’s employment continuity and career re-entry in India: A structured review of conditions and employer support

Background Higher female labour force participation does not necessarily indicate that qualified women obtain or sustain suitable paid employment. This review examines how care responsibilities, labour demand and workplace practices influence skilled women’s employment continuity and career re-entry in India. Methods A structured narrative review examined scholarly and institutional sources identified through targeted searches of publisher and institutional websites. Journal research was considered alongside official statistics and institutional reports. Evidence was compared by population, study design, observation period and employment outcome. Findings were synthesised narratively without statistical pooling. Results The evidence distinguishes aggregate participation from employment among qualified women, and organisational policy provision from demonstrated employment outcomes. Official statistics indicate that 51.4% of women aged 15–59 with formal vocational or technical training were employed; this is an employment measure rather than a labour force participation rate. Indian studies describe care constraints, occupational stereotypes, workplace support and varied experiences of career re-entry. Employer reports document organisational initiatives but do not establish sustained retention. Existing reviews examine reintegration, mentoring and organisational context. A key synthesis question concerns whether access to employer support translates into skill utilisation, earnings, employment continuity and career progression. Differences in populations, measures and study designs limit comparisons and causal interpretation. Conclusions Evaluating skilled women’s employment requires attention to outcomes beyond qualifications, policy availability and initial recruitment. Longitudinal and comparative research in India is needed to assess how employer support relates to durable employment outcomes valued by women, while accounting for care responsibilities and occupational settings.