Women make up 51% of the U.S. population and account for 47% of the U.S. labor force. They account for 59% of college graduates, 60% of the undergraduate degrees earned, and 60% of all master's degrees.
They earn 47% of all law degrees, and 48% of all medical degrees. While more than 70% of Americans say that having more women in leadership roles would have a significant impact on issues like the wage gap, policy change and diversity, companies are still slow to hire them. Here are five facts about women in leadership that may surprise you.
In the U.S., women account for 45% of the labor force in the financial services sector. However, only 28% are represented at more senior levels and a mere 1.4% serve as CEOs at
S&P 500 financial companies.
The number of women-owned firms in the U.S. continues to climb, and is now estimated to have surpassed 9.4 million enterprises - 30% of all businesses in the country. Women owned businesses employ over 7.9 million workers, providing one in seven jobs among privately-owned companies, and generate an estimated $1.5 trillion in revenue annually;
up 79% since 1997.
In the U.S., women account for 19.8% of the board seats held at S&P Fortune 500 financial firms. That number has stagnated in spite of significant efforts to promote gender equality and investments in programs to advance the careers of women.
According to the latest
Grant Thornton International Business Report, figures show that the percentage of senior roles held by women in the U.S. increased from 21% in 2015 to 23% in 2016, the highest figure recorded since 2007. However, Eastern Europe continues to top the rankings, with 35% of senior roles in the region held by women.
Women are also lagging far behind their male counterparts when it comes to landing the critical profit-and-loss (P&L) jobs that serve as grooming roles for future leaders. Many successful women in the workforce end up in roles in human resources, marketing, compliance and investor relations, which are important, yet don't serve as a gateway to the top of the
Through a focus on corporate culture changes and with the support of senior leadership, more organizations are becoming active participants in leveling the playing field, creating a singular journey to be traveled by all who are qualified, regardless of gender.
Middle market companies account for one-third of private sector GDP and employ 25% of the total labor force.
While less visible than both small and large caps and vastly undersupported, middle-market companies are a signi