According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 47% of U.S. workers are women. While we all expect equal treatment and opportunity at work, women in the workplace have historically been faced with an uneven playing field. Recent data from an iCIMS survey, of 1,000 office professionals, reveals that U.S. companies are making progress, but still struggle with gender issues, including the pay gap, parental leave, hiring women in STEM-roles (science, technology, education, and math fields), and promoting women to C-level positions.
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iCIMS recently released a report on the survey findings, key findings include:
Career Advancement and Salary
- Among female executives, 62% have been passed up for a promotion in favor of a male.
- Of those who have yet to rise through the ranks, 44% of women doubt their ability to successfully negotiate a raise.
Gender Equality in Senior Leadership
- Among nonexecutives, 73% of women aspire to be an executive at some point in their career, which means they are equally as aspirational as men (76%), yet on average only 32% of high-level or C-level leaders are women.
- While 94% of workers have at least one female in their leadership team, office professionals say, on average, just 32% of high-level or C-level leaders at their company are women.
Parental Leave and Returning to Work
- Among working men, 91% believe they are less likely than women to take advantage of parental leave, even if they have the option.
- Overall, 45% of office professionals believe parental leave would decrease their opportunities for promotion.
- Overall, 82% of office professionals and 95% of Millennials are interested in taking advantage of a “returnship” program in the future.
Gender Equality in the STEM Industry
- Professionals in STEM said it will take approximately 13 years before their industry has as many women as men, while 33% believe this will never happen.
- Women who work in STEM (46%) are significantly more likely than men in STEM (27%) to feel they are underpaid.
To learn more, or to read iCIMS newest eBook related to the findings, click here.