Employers miss out on talent as women face discrimination and prejudice, report finds
21 May 2014
More than four out of 10 women (44%) say their gender has hindered their career or will in the future, according to a report by career coaching providers Talking Talent.
Wed, 21 May 2014
More than four out of 10 women (44%) say their gender has hindered their career or will in the future, according to a report by career coaching providers Talking Talent.
The research conducted among more than 1,000 professional women and working mothers found more than seven in 10 women rate their employer positively for retaining and progressing female talent.
On the other hand, 36% of women have experienced prejudice because of their gender and 37% of working mothers said the same about motherhood. Twelve per cent of women have been passed over for promotion because of their gender.
Accountancy is the best sector for working women, with 94% of accountants saying that their employer is supportive of women. Women in accountancy are also the most positive about their employer’s ability to retain female talent, with a third describing their employer as excellent compared to an average of one in five.
At the other end of the scale, women in advertising, marketing and media rate their industry as worst for progressing female talent and a majority have faced prejudice and discrimination (51%).
Women in engineering and manufacturing are least likely to say they feel supported and least positive about their employer’s ability to retain female talent (11%). They are most likely to say their gender has hindered their career progress, with the majority citing a male dominated environment as a key reason. Education and law are the best sectors for working mothers.
Chris Parke, chief executive officer of Talking Talent, says: “The level of prejudice and discrimination towards women and working mothers, and the fact such a large proportion have been passed over for promotion due to their gender is shocking.
“If employers fail to stamp this out and to introduce measures to support women particularly through maternity, employers will miss out on a huge section of their top talent – something they can ill-afford to do in today’s competitive economy.”
More than four out of 10 women (44%) say their gender has hindered their career or will in the future, according to a report by career coaching providers Talking Talent.
The research conducted among more than 1,000 professional women and working mothers found more than seven in 10 women rate their employer positively for retaining and progressing female talent.
On the other hand, 36% of women have experienced prejudice because of their gender and 37% of working mothers said the same about motherhood. Twelve per cent of women have been passed over for promotion because of their gender.
Accountancy is the best sector for working women, with 94% of accountants saying that their employer is supportive of women. Women in accountancy are also the most positive about their employer’s ability to retain female talent, with a third describing their employer as excellent compared to an average of one in five.
At the other end of the scale, women in advertising, marketing and media rate their industry as worst for progressing female talent and a majority have faced prejudice and discrimination (51%).
Women in engineering and manufacturing are least likely to say they feel supported and least positive about their employer’s ability to retain female talent (11%). They are most likely to say their gender has hindered their career progress, with the majority citing a male dominated environment as a key reason. Education and law are the best sectors for working mothers.
Chris Parke, chief executive officer of Talking Talent, says: “The level of prejudice and discrimination towards women and working mothers, and the fact such a large proportion have been passed over for promotion due to their gender is shocking.
“If employers fail to stamp this out and to introduce measures to support women particularly through maternity, employers will miss out on a huge section of their top talent – something they can ill-afford to do in today’s competitive economy.”
