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TWENTY-NINE PERCENT OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT ROLES IN ARMENIA FILLED BY WOMEN
YEREVAN, March 9, /ARKA/. Ahead of the International Women's Day, new
research from Grant Thornton revealed that Eastern European countries
dominate the international league table for senior female business
leaders, including seven of the top ten, with Russia at number one.
However the proportion of women reaching the top tier of the business
world has shown little progress over the past decade, leading to
renewed calls for quotas.
Grant Thornton's research reveals that 40% of senior business roles
in Russia are occupied by women, the highest in the world, and almost
double the global average (22%). The next five countries on the list
are all near neighbors: Georgia (38%), Poland (37%), Latvia (36%),
Estonia (35%) and Lithuania (33%).
IBR data shows that 29% of senior management roles are filled by women
in Armenia. This is up from 35% in 2014. However index is higher
than the last five year average and Armenia remain its position of
the top ten, being 8th on the league table.
Francesca Lagerberg, global leader for tax services at Grant Thornton,
said: "The domination of Eastern European nations is explained by a
complex blend of factors including history, culture and demographics.
A thriving culture of female entrepreneurship is a legacy of the
Communist ideal of equality of opportunity and this extends into
the broad range of subjects women study in the region. Consequently
we find women well represented in services industries too; and not
just those traditionally with high numbers of women like healthcare
and hospitality, but emerging industries such as financial services
and technology.
"Simple demographics are undeniably at play too. Russia, for example,
has 120 women for every 100 men.
"What can the rest of the world learn from Eastern Europe? Clearly
there is no magic wand, but some of the recommendations we set out
in our report - including changing societal norms around the role of
women and eradicating gender bias - are directly drawn from what is
working well in the region."
Globally, 22% of senior roles held by women is slightly up from 2004
(19%) but down from 24% last year. Japan remains at the bottom of the
list with just 8% of senior roles held by women, followed by Germany
(14%) and India (15%).
Francesca Lagerberg added: "We've heard businesses talk the talk on
gender equality for decades now, but still too few are walking the
walk. Aside from the moral issue of ensuring equal opportunity for
all, a more representative blend of women and men in senior roles
just makes good business sense. If an economy is only using half its
most talented people then it immediately cuts its growth potential.
"This presents real challenges not just for businesses but for
governments, society and women too. Society must adjust to changes in
the way we live and work; for example, the stigmatisation of men who
choose to stay at home for family reasons must end. Governments can
support this by facilitating shared parental leave but also building
the infrastructure to allow women to thrive in the workforce. This
could, for example, include mandating quotas for women on boards."
Grant Thornton's research also reveals increasing support of 47%
among business leaders for the introduction of quotas on boards of
large listed companies up from 37% in 2013. -0-
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/twenty_nine_percent_of_senior_management_roles_in_ armenia_filled_by_women_/#sthash.LMZVB28p.dpuf
YEREVAN, March 9, /ARKA/. Ahead of the International Women's Day, new
research from Grant Thornton revealed that Eastern European countries
dominate the international league table for senior female business
leaders, including seven of the top ten, with Russia at number one.
However the proportion of women reaching the top tier of the business
world has shown little progress over the past decade, leading to
renewed calls for quotas.
Grant Thornton's research reveals that 40% of senior business roles
in Russia are occupied by women, the highest in the world, and almost
double the global average (22%). The next five countries on the list
are all near neighbors: Georgia (38%), Poland (37%), Latvia (36%),
Estonia (35%) and Lithuania (33%).
IBR data shows that 29% of senior management roles are filled by women
in Armenia. This is up from 35% in 2014. However index is higher
than the last five year average and Armenia remain its position of
the top ten, being 8th on the league table.
Francesca Lagerberg, global leader for tax services at Grant Thornton,
said: "The domination of Eastern European nations is explained by a
complex blend of factors including history, culture and demographics.
A thriving culture of female entrepreneurship is a legacy of the
Communist ideal of equality of opportunity and this extends into
the broad range of subjects women study in the region. Consequently
we find women well represented in services industries too; and not
just those traditionally with high numbers of women like healthcare
and hospitality, but emerging industries such as financial services
and technology.
"Simple demographics are undeniably at play too. Russia, for example,
has 120 women for every 100 men.
"What can the rest of the world learn from Eastern Europe? Clearly
there is no magic wand, but some of the recommendations we set out
in our report - including changing societal norms around the role of
women and eradicating gender bias - are directly drawn from what is
working well in the region."
Globally, 22% of senior roles held by women is slightly up from 2004
(19%) but down from 24% last year. Japan remains at the bottom of the
list with just 8% of senior roles held by women, followed by Germany
(14%) and India (15%).
Francesca Lagerberg added: "We've heard businesses talk the talk on
gender equality for decades now, but still too few are walking the
walk. Aside from the moral issue of ensuring equal opportunity for
all, a more representative blend of women and men in senior roles
just makes good business sense. If an economy is only using half its
most talented people then it immediately cuts its growth potential.
"This presents real challenges not just for businesses but for
governments, society and women too. Society must adjust to changes in
the way we live and work; for example, the stigmatisation of men who
choose to stay at home for family reasons must end. Governments can
support this by facilitating shared parental leave but also building
the infrastructure to allow women to thrive in the workforce. This
could, for example, include mandating quotas for women on boards."
Grant Thornton's research also reveals increasing support of 47%
among business leaders for the introduction of quotas on boards of
large listed companies up from 37% in 2013. -0-
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/twenty_nine_percent_of_senior_management_roles_in_ armenia_filled_by_women_/#sthash.LMZVB28p.dpuf