By: McCrindle
Women comprise 47% of Australia’s workforce, yet make up only 5% of CEOs and only 20% of executive management in ASX 200 companies. When it comes to women in senior leadership roles, three in five Australians (59%) feel there are improvements needed to achieve equal representation. McCrindle surveyed over 1,000 employed Australians aged 18-65, to gather their perspective on how Australia is tracking with regards to gender equality in our workplaces.
74% of employed Australians believe equal representation of women in senior leadership is important
Australians are positive towards women in senior leadership. Three in four employed Australians (74%) consider the goal of equal representation of women on company boards and in corporate leadership as important, yet many Aussies are not convinced it is being achieved. Almost half (46%) believe not enough progress is being made towards this ambition.
Generation Y (aged between 24 and 38) are the most likely generation to believe achieving 50% representation of women on boards and in senior leadership positions is an important goal, but one that not enough progress is being made towards. Half of Gen Y (51%) consider this goal to be important compared to 45% of Gen Z, 46% of Gen X and 37% of Baby Boomers.
As Generation Y are in the key years of establishing their career and are moving towards leadership positions, it makes sense that they consider the equal representation of women in senior leadership positions as an important goal. Generation Y are standing on the shoulders of the generations who have gone before them, are an active generation in the workforce and are more likely to be in familial situations where both parents work due to the economic context in which they have been shaped.
Three in five employed Australians believe there is room for improvement
Three in five employed Australians (59%) believe there is room for improvement when it comes to women in leadership and senior roles in our workplaces. Just 12% believe Australian workplaces are going extremely well in this regard, and that there is little left to improve. A further 28% believe it is going very well with not much room for improvement.
As we look to the future, the emerging generations will bring unique and different qualities to leadership roles. These generations will be portfolio-career holders who will bring a broader perspective than just a domain knowledge, which is important for governance boards. Their entrepreneurial and global mindset will be key to the value they will bring to the workplace. But to set them up well, current business leaders need to create a culture of leadership development, encouraging and empowering this next generation of women, as the leaders of tomorrow.
Not enough flexible working options seen as the main factor holding back Australian workplaces from achieving equal gender representation in leadership roles
More than two in five employed Australians (44%) strongly or somewhat agree that not enough flexible working options holds back Australian workplaces from achieving 50% women in senior leadership roles, followed by a lack of support for women exiting the workplace for family reasons (41% strongly or somewhat agree).
Flexible workplace conditions are key to overall employee engagement, but particularly for women in the workplace. This next generation of women will be post-dialectic in their nature, seeking both career advancement and a family. Women have a tremendous capacity to juggle various commitments – not without difficulty – but to do this increasingly, we need the right flexibility, support for women leaving the workforce as well as organisations who model this well.
Women in leadership viewed as a positive by Australian employees
Australian employees are in favour of their leader being a woman. Two in five employed Australians (21%) say their leader being a woman would be a positive, while 73% say it would make no difference to them if their leader was a woman.
Generation Z are more likely to consider their leader being a woman a positive, with 28% Gen Z considering this a positive, compared to the average 21%. Generation Z have been shaped in their formative years by a more diverse Australia and are more likely to not only be tolerant of diversity in our society and our workplaces, but to embrace it.
Female employment growing more strongly than male employment
The rate of growth for women in the workplace continues to outpace the rate of growth for men in both full-time and part-time employment. Key factors in the increased participation rate include higher education rates among women, child care support and growth in traditionally female dominated service sectors.
Females will account for 58% of projected employment growth over the next 5 years to May 2023. Overall, female employment is projected to grow by 8.8% compared with 5.6% for males.
About this study
This research was conducted by McCrindle Research in February 2019, based on a nationwide study of 1,160 respondents.
Article supplied with thanks to McCrindle.
About the Author: McCrindle are a team of researchers and communications specialists who discover insights, and tell the story of Australians – what we do, and who we are.