In fact, nearly 8 out of 10 women in India said they avoid applying for jobs because of caregiving responsibilities, indicating the continuing impact of unpaid care work on career choices, according to a report by Indeed. The report is based on responses from 1,141 women across India, including working mothers, women on career breaks, and those who have returned to work after a break. The respondents belonged to major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune and Kolkata. Flexibility emerged as an important factor in shaping job choice. The report states that 53 percent of women preferred flexible working hours when choosing work, while 48 percent preferred hybrid or remote work options. It also found that compensation expectations are changing, with nearly 8 in 10 respondents saying they would either accept lower pay (45 percent) or consider doing so in exchange for better flexibility and work-life balance (34 percent). For working mothers, hybrid and remote work is especially important. The report found that 37 percent of respondents said hybrid or remote work would be the most impactful workplace change for them. Overall, 59 percent of respondents felt that workplace flexibility has genuinely improved career opportunities for mothers in India, while another 30 percent said it has helped somewhat. The results also showed that expectations of returning to the office influenced hiring decisions. More than 51 percent of respondents said they had turned down a job interview or offer because of office attendance requirements.A full-time office mandate was cited as the biggest barrier by 37 percent of respondents, followed by a lack of flexibility in roles at 34 percent.
