Women’s Senior Leadership and C-Suite Gains Reverse

Just one year ago, glowing predictions of achieving gender parity in senior corporate positions were the norm, based on nearly two decades of steady growth in both senior leader and C-Suite positions since S&P Global began tracking them in 2006. For the first time, the positive trend has reversed in 2023 calling S&P Global’s “previous gender parity estimates into question.”    

Global gender parity has also stagnated according to the World Economic Forum. While U.S. growth rates have varied year by year, the overall trend has moved in a positive direction over the past two decades. 

In 2023, however, women’s representation in C-suite positions declined by 0.4%. While the COVID pandemic affected the rate of growth, the trend remained positive for both senior leader and C-suite positions. 

This reversal correlates with a drop in focus on diversity initiatives which the study measures through an analysis of earnings call transcripts. These transcripts show that mentions of diversity and inclusion in 2023 were at their lowest since 2012.

As discussed in another This Week article, a recent survey of HR Policy members shows that companies remain committed to diversity initiatives, despite negative DEI headwinds but may use different terminology when discussing their goals.