At a Glance

134% rise in Mineral Resources hires, driven by 100% growth in female leadership positions, setting a new standard for gender diversity. 
750% surge in female promotions across Utilities, reshaping leadership with bold strides in diversity. 
Real Estate leads the charge, with a 113% increase in female hires, shattering traditional gender norms in leadership. 
Pharmaceuticals struggle, facing a 63% drop in female leadership hires, exposing gaps in diversity efforts post-pandemic. 
Fossil Fuels surprise with a 350% increase in female leadership promotions, challenging the male-dominated status quo.

From January to September of 2023 and 2024, leadership roles across top sectors, including Board Members, Chairpersons, CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, and COOs, experienced notable shifts.
 
Leadership Hiring Trends: Overall,

<h3><strong>At a Glance</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>134% rise in Mineral Resources hires</strong>, driven by 100% growth in female leadership positions, setting a new standard for gender diversity. </li>
<li><strong>750% surge in female promotions</strong> across Utilities, reshaping leadership with bold strides in diversity. </li>
<li><strong>Real Estate leads the charge</strong>, with a 113% increase in female hires, shattering traditional gender norms in leadership. </li>
<li><strong>Pharmaceuticals struggle</strong>, facing a 63% drop in female leadership hires, exposing gaps in diversity efforts post-pandemic. </li>
<li><strong>Fossil Fuels surprise with a 350% increase</strong> in female leadership promotions, challenging the male-dominated status quo.</li>
</ul>
<p>From January to September of 2023 and 2024, leadership roles across top sectors, including Board Members, Chairpersons, CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, and COOs, experienced notable shifts.</p>
<h3> </h3>
<h3><strong>Leadership Hiring Trends: Overall, Male, and Female Comparisons</strong></h3>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-No1WF" style="border: none; width: 100%; height: 364px;" title="" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/No1WF/5/" width="742" height="364" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" sandbox="" aria-label="Bar Chart" data-external="1"></iframe> </p>
<p>Some sectors saw impressive growth in leadership hires. Mineral Resources stands out with a 134% rise in hires, including a 100% increase in female leadership hires. This balanced growth reflects efforts to diversify leadership in response to economic opportunities in mining. Real Estate follows closely, with a 69% rise, driven by a 113% increase in female hires, showcasing progress in traditionally male-dominated sectors.</p>
<p> <iframe id="datawrapper-chart-rhFZz" style="border: none; width: 100%; height: 385px;" title="" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rhFZz/2/" width="804" height="385" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" sandbox="" aria-label="Stacked Bars" data-external="1"></iframe> </p>
<p>In contrast, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Research experienced a significant 47% drop in overall leadership hires, with female hires plummeting by 63%. This could be due to post-pandemic restructuring and a reduced focus on gender diversity. Technology Equipment saw a 24% decline, indicating difficulties in attracting diverse talent to leadership positions.</p>
<h3><strong>Promotion Trends in Leadership</strong></h3>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-jOyWT" style="border: none; width: 100%; height: 363px;" title="" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/jOyWT/3/" width="752" height="363" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" sandbox="" aria-label="Bar Chart" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<p>When it comes to leadership promotions, Utilities saw extraordinary growth, with a 522% increase overall, including a 750% surge in female promotions. This push reflects regulatory pressure and the sectors commitment to diversity. Fossil Fuels also saw strong promotion rates, with female promotions rising by 350%, pointing to progress in an industry typically dominated by men.</p>
<p> <iframe id="datawrapper-chart-hJJj8" style="border: none; width: 100%; height: 386px;" title="" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/hJJj8/4/" width="788" height="386" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" sandbox="" aria-label="Stacked Bars" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<p>However, Pharmaceuticals lagged behind again, with a 25% drop in overall promotions and female promotions falling by 41%. This suggests the sector is struggling to advance women into top roles. Financial Technology saw a modest 6% decline in promotions, highlighting ongoing challenges in promoting women into leadership positions.</p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>Comparing Hires and Promotions Across Sectors </strong></h3>
<p>Some sectors showed consistency in both hires and promotions, such as <strong>Mineral Resources</strong> and <strong>Utilities</strong>, which demonstrated strong growth in both areas. This suggests a comprehensive approach to leadership development, where both hiring and internal promotions are emphasised to improve diversity.</p>
<p>In contrast, <strong>Pharmaceuticals </strong>and <strong>Technology Equipment</strong> show troubling declines in both hiring and promoting women into leadership, indicating deeper issues with diversity at the top. <strong>Banking & Investment Services</strong>, however, showed a more encouraging trend: despite a slower overall increase in hires (43%), female promotions rose by 119%, signalling efforts to boost women into senior roles.</p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>Key Takeaways </strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Positive strides:</strong> Sectors like <strong>Mineral Resources</strong> and <strong>Utilities </strong>are making strong gains in hiring and promoting women into leadership roles, reflecting a genuine commitment to gender diversity. </li>
<li><strong>Areas of concern:</strong> <strong>Pharmaceuticals </strong>and <strong>Technology Equipment</strong> are lagging in both hiring and promotions of women, indicating the need for better diversity strategies.</li>
<li><strong>Opportunities for improvement: Banking & Investment Services</strong> shows strong female promotion growth, but hiring efforts must catch up to close the gender gap. </li>
</ul>
<p>These trends are critical for organisations aiming to enhance gender diversity in leadership. By identifying sector-specific successes and gaps, companies can develop more effective strategies to hire and promote women into top roles, building a more inclusive leadership pipeline.</p>

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The Changing Face of Leadership: Gender Diversity Trends in Key Sectors (Part 1)

The Changing Face of Leadership: Gender Diversity Trends in Key Sectors (Part 1)

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