Phoenix, AZ—LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company have a published the latest version of their Women in the Workplace report. Now in its 10th year, the report takes an in-depth look at the advancements and challenges still being faced by female member of the workforce in 2024. While some statistics show there are strides being made towards gender parity, there is a concerning trend.
Women in the Workplace Findings
Examining the landscape led to several positive takeaways. According to the 2024 report:
- 12% growth for women in C-suite positions; 29% in 2024 up from 17% in 2015.
- Increased efforts to foster inclusion.
- Significant gains in companies offering family leave and flexible workplace policies
Alternatively, there were points of concern:
- Company commitment to diversity saw a decline.
- 78% of companies labeled gender diversity as a high priority, down from 87% in 2019.
- 37% of companies offer formal mentorship programs for women, down 11% from 2022.
Addressing the Issues
Even with ongoing improvements, there is room for change. Progress has hit a 48% plateau at the entry-level and 39% at the manager level. Advancements at the senior leadership levels were mainly driven by the merging of line roles, while in the C-suite the greatest increase was visible in staff functions such as chief human resources officer or chief legal officer. At the current rate of progress it would take approximately 50 years to reach parity for all men in corporate America. Removing the bias from the hiring and promotions processes, inspiring and equipping employees to curb bias and practice allyship, unlocking the power of managers to influence careers and team culture are amongst the core practices companies can adopt to further develop an inclusive and equal workplace.
According to the reports authors, “The next phase of change will require even more tenacity, creativity, and optimism—and that starts with rekindling the commitment to diversity and fairness that got us to this point. For senior leaders, it means continuing to champion the important work and challenging yourself and your organization to do better.”
In 2023, the Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) organization published its Gender Representation in Nutraceutical Industry Leadership Survey, a global survey to establish benchmarks that would help keep track of shifts in gender parity and the representation of women in leadership roles within the nutraceutical industry. Its findings: 37% of senior leadership roles and 28% of CEO positions within the nutraceutical industry were held by women. While low, the numbers are comparable to the stats reported by LeanIn and McKinsey & Company for the pharmaceutical industry with 41% of vice presidents, 35% of senior vice presidents, and 29% of C-suite roles all being held by female employees.
“Within the nutraceutical industry, we talk about the importance of health and wellness, inclusion and innovation... One of the greatest drivers of innovation is gender equality throughout an organization, and particularly in leadership. WIN is committed to collaborating with individuals and organizations to develop tools and programs that will drive positive change in the nutraceutical industry," shared Heather Granato, WIN President.
