On International Women’s Day, a new report based on Grant Thornton’s annual survey of 5,500 businesses in 36 economies reveals the global proportion of senior business roles held by women has hit a high of 25%.

However, the findings show that progress remains slow. The global figure for 2017 is an increase of just one percent from 2016, and the proportion has only improved six percent in the 13 years since the research began. 

Grant Thornton’s data shows developing regions continue to lead the charge on diversity with developed economies lagging behind. Eastern Europe performed best, with 38% of senior roles held by women in 2017, up from 35% in 2016, and the percentage of businesses with no women in senior management falling from 16% in 2016 to just 9% in 2017. 

This is a significant contrast to the major economies of the G7, which have remained static with 22% of senior roles held by women and 39% of businesses with no women in senior management. 

The research reveals that the individual countries with the highest proportion of senior roles held by women are Russia (47%), Indonesia (46%), Estonia (40%), Poland (40%), Philippines (40%), and Armenia (31%). The countries with the lowest proportion of senior roles held by women are Japan (7%), Argentina (15%), India (17%), Germany (18%), Brazil (19%) and the United Kingdom (19%).

It is interesting to observe that 31% recorded in Armenia is a 5% increase from last year’s 26%. The surveyed Armenian businesses have also recorded improvement in diversity in management positions, with only 10% having no women in senior roles (as compared to 29% in 2016).

Gagik Gyulbudaghyan, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Armenia, said: “We are proud of having an environment here in Grant Thornton Armenia, where equal approach is one of the fundamentals. In fact, 55% of managerial positions within the firm are currently held by women. Companies today need to be more productive, more innovative and in many ways more open if they are to grow. Diversity will be key to their success.”

The full report Women in Business 2017: New perspectives on risk and reward is available on http://www.grantthornton.am/en/publications/ibr/reports_2017_ibr

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