Women Remain Underrepresented at Every Stage of Corporate Pipeline

In its 2024 10-year anniversary Women in the Workplace report, McKinsey in partnership with LeanIn.org reports that while companies took action leading to progress for women at all corporate levels, gains remain fragile. 

Why it matters: While women now make up 29% of C-suite positions compared to 17% in 2015, progress has been much slower, and has stagnated, at the entry and manager levels of the pipeline.

What they’re saying: Women are less likely than men to gain their first promotion to a manager role, a reality that has barely moved since 2018. The result is that men significantly outnumber women at the manager level, making it difficult for companies to make progress at more senior levels.

• Reasons for the stagnation may include that managers have more on their plates, but are not widely being evaluated — or compensated on inclusion or development— which may lead to women leaving the employer. 

Yes, but: Company efforts have made, and continue to make, a difference. 

• Support for employees who are parents and caregivers; flexible work options; debiasing hiring practices and performance reviews are linked with positive outcomes. 

• Companies are urged to continue these practices and maintain programs designed to advance women, especially women of color, an area that some companies are pulling away from.

The bottom line: The popular belief is that women have overcome pipeline issues that have challenged other underrepresented groups. At the current pace, it will take 22 years for white women to reach parity and twice as long for women of color, according to the report.