Persons with disabilities make up less than 1% of Indian corporate workforce: report

Persons with disabilities continue to be severely underrepresented in India’s corporate workforce, according to a report released on Thursday.

The Marching Sheep PwD Inclusion Index 2025: Building Disability Confident Organisations revealed that despite ongoing discussions, advocacy, and policy reforms, the representation of persons with disabilities in organisations across the country remains below 1 percent.

The report, based on inputs from 876 listed organisations across 59 sectors, found that 37.9 percent of surveyed companies do not have a single permanently employed disabled individual. Although there has been some progress compared to last year, with a 4.1 percent increase in organisations employing at least one person with a disability, the overall numbers remain low.

The findings also highlight a significant gap between companies’ intentions and actual implementation. About 39 percent of surveyed firms reported lower representation of persons with disabilities than last year, indicating that commitments to inclusivity are not consistently translating into practice.

Public sector undertakings employ 72 percent of all persons with disabilities in India, while the private sector continues to lag behind in workforce inclusion. The report noted that many persons with disabilities remain confined to entry-level or blue-collar roles, regardless of their qualifications.

Marching Sheep Founder and CEO Sonica Aron said the data shows progress but underscores the need for faster action. She said organisations must shift from viewing disability through a charity lens to recognising persons with disabilities as integral contributors to talent and capability building within teams and the workforce.