Businesses Report Growing Benefits from Gender Equality
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- Businesses Report Growing Benefits from Gender Equality
- Women in business and management: Scaling success (Report download available)
Businesses Report Growing Benefits from Gender Equality
3 November 2026
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Women in Business and Management: Scaling Success
3 November 2026
Available in:
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GENEVA (ILO News) – Women are increasingly reaching top positions in business leadership, and enterprises worldwide report growing benefits from gender equality and diversity, according to a new ILO report. However, gaps in the management pipeline and a decline in implementing gender equality initiatives could jeopardize these gains.
The report highlights the following key findings:
- Women’s representation at the top of enterprises has increased over the past decade. The share of enterprises with a woman board chair rose from 13.1% in 2013 to 30.9% in 2025, and the share with a woman CEO increased from 23.4% to 28.2% during the same period.
- Despite this progress, women remain under-represented in management globally, holding less than a third (30%) of managerial positions.
- Gender balance improved at senior and top management levels but declined at junior and middle management levels between 2013 and 2025.
- Nearly seven in ten enterprises (68%) surveyed in 2025 stated that gender equality and diversity initiatives had improved business outcomes, up from 57.9% in 2018.
- Enterprises with women CEOs and board chairs reported better business outcomes.
- There is a growing gap between enterprises’ commitment to gender equality and the actual implementation of relevant policies.
ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo emphasized, "Gender equality is a fundamental right, and the evidence is clear that it is also a powerful driver of sustainable enterprises and economic growth."
Despite the strengthening business case for gender equality, further efforts are needed to ensure sustainable progress.