8 March 2007
New Zealand Women In Business Management Losing Ground
The glass ceiling in New Zealand management meeting rooms has sunk lower than it was three years ago.
The latest results from the Grant Thornton International Business Report survey show that New Zealand has slipped down
the global league when it comes to the percentage of women in the senior management of businesses.
In 2004, New Zealand was ranked equal fourth among nations in terms of female representation in business management. At
that point the proportion equated to 31%.
In 2007, it has slipped to tenth. The proportion now is only 24%.
The latest findings from the Grant Thornton report have been released today to coincide with International Women's Day.
Ahead of New Zealand are countries from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. The top nine, in order, are the
Philippines (50%), Brazil (42%), Thailand (39%), Hong Kong (35%), Russia (34%), mainland China (32%), Botswana (31%),
South Africa and Taiwan (both 29%).
"This is very disappointing news," says Pam Newlove, Grant Thornton Director of Business Advisory Services for New
Zealand.
"Perhaps because of the achievements of women in positions of prominence in New Zealand, there is probably a perception
that women are doing well in business," she says. "The reality is that, in the bigger picture, women have lost ground.
"The only consolation is that we remain ahead of Australia, which has stayed constant with 22% female representation in
both 2004 and 2007. And we're just ahead of the United States (23%), with a list of mainly European countries trailing
behind. "
The UK moved up marginally, from 18% to 19%, within the three-year period, while Japan again anchored the bottom of the
table, also moving up slightly - from 8% to 9%.
In New Zealand, the proportion of actual businesses with women in senior management positions fell from 69% in 2004 to
63% now, leaving New Zealand in equal 18th position internationally on this scale. Australia also dropped, from 70% to
64%, in the same period but stayed just ahead of New Zealand on this table.
Of the 150 New Zealand businesses surveyed, 37% had no women in senior management, 40% had only one, 13% had two, and
10% had three or more.
"In all brackets, the representation has worsened since 2004," says Pam Newlove. "It is a bit of an eye-opener.
"There are ramifications from this, including a weakening of the pool from which potential women directors for company
boards can be drawn. There are obviously also going to be fewer role models for aspirational young women in business.
"It is hard to know the causes for the downturn, although one of them might just be women choosing to have children
later in their careers and moving out of management positions in the process," she says.
ENDS