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Women in Business Report

PH tops in women leadership roles

THE Philippines has the highest proportion of women in senior management positions among 32 countries, results of the Grant Thornton International's 2020 Women in Business report. 

At 43 percent, that is six percentage points higher than 37 percent in the 2019 2019 survey but down from 47 percent in 2018.

That is also 14-percentage points higher than the global average, where women account for 29 percent of senior leadership positions---the same as lasr year.

For 2020, the three-year moving average for the Philippines is 42 percent.

Local data from the report showed of the businesses surveyed, the top three roles of Filipina executives are chief finance officer (CFO), 38 percent; human resources (HR) director, 36 percent and; chief operating officer (COO), 23 percent.

The proportions are lower and the order has changed from a year ago where the top posts for women are HR director, 52 percent CFO, 45 percent and; COO, 37 percent.

"We are seeing that the most significant roles in business operations---strategy, finance, and people---are being held by women. The percentages have decreased this year, and it is interesting to note that women are holding these same three roles," said Marivic Españom chairperson and chief executive officer of P&A Grant Thornton, the Philippine member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.

The same report said 94 percent of Filipino businesses are actively working on removing barriers to gender parity at senior levels.

Among the specific actions companies are taking to improve or preserve gender balance are ensuring equal access to developmental work opportunities (at 36 percent), and enabling flexible working, reviewing recruitment approaches, and providing mentoring and coaching (all three of which are at 33 percent).

 

As published in Malaya, dated 24 February 2020