Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 9: The Ayush services sector is emerging as a significant source of employment for women in India, with female participation exceeding 50 per cent in several organised segments of the industry, the government said on Thursday.
Women account for 43 per cent of the overall workforce in the sector, which includes Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy, according to the Ministry of Ayush.
The findings were highlighted in the Ayush Service Sector Report, a study conducted by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and released on Ayurveda Day 2026.
The report highlights the growing role of women across healthcare delivery, education, wellness and allied services within the Ayush ecosystem.
According to the assessment, women constitute more than 60 per cent of the workforce in spas and wellness resorts. Their representation stands at 58 per cent in educational institutes, 57 per cent in day-care centres and 53 per cent in hospitals.
The report said the trend reflects expanding employment opportunities for women in organised Ayush establishments and their growing contribution to the sector's development.
The Ayush services economy was valued at $36.92 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.91 per cent since 2022-23. The sector directly supports around 1.76 million livelihoods across healthcare, wellness, education and allied services.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said the expansion of the Ayush services sector was creating meaningful employment opportunities across multiple domains.
He said the sector's growth was not only strengthening India's healthcare ecosystem but also opening up avenues for entrepreneurship, skill development and greater participation of women in the workforce.
The report noted that more than one million livelihoods are concentrated in local and standalone clinics, highlighting the sector's extensive employment footprint across urban and rural areas.
Standalone clinics are also the largest revenue-generating segment, contributing an estimated $16.21 billion, or 43.9 per cent of the sector's total revenue.
Day-care centres generated an additional $10.13 billion, with the two segments together accounting for more than 70 per cent of the industry's revenue.