Page 39 - Winning Women 2017

BWASA 39

. FROM PAGE 38 women hold the position of dean in female chief executives with 12.5%,
GOVERNMENT science, technology, engineering and followed by India (8.3%) and then
Despite gender equity targets and mathematics schools. Less than a third South Africa. Russia comes out on top
making up the majority of workers in of executive director and manager when looking at women in senior
the public service, women account for positions are held by women, offering management positions (47% of senior
only 41% of senior management little opportunity for women to move managers are women), followed by
positions. As salaries increase, the gap from the managerial level to top China (31%), and South Africa.
between the share of women versus leadership positions. On a positive “While comparative indicators across
men at the senior management level note, more women than men continue many African economies are yet to
also increases, with 2.5 men for every to be enrolled at universities and exist, a number of economies have
woman at the highest salary band women attain 62% of total degrees. acknowledged the imperative of
(level 16) within the public service women empowerment, especially at a
sector. Encouragingly, African women EMERGING MARKETS AND AFRICA time when the continent’s growth
as a share of senior management Although directorships have been model needs a revamp. Sustainably
positions saw the most significant increasing at the fastest rate across all growing African economies will
growth between 2015 and 2016, regions tracked, this has been less so increasingly depend on both
increasing by 7.3 percentage points. through legislation, which has often developing and including their full
been the case in advanced economies. human capital resources,” said Magau.
HIGHER EDUCATION “Among its Brics peers, South Africa “Progress is still lacking in this
There has been little improvement in stands out, but is increasingly regard given that, out of 52 countries,
the share of women in leadership contested by India, which has doubled only five relatively small countries
positions at South Africa’s higher the share of women on boards in two have parity (or women exceed men) in
education institutions since the census years. In contrast to the emerging labour force participation rates.”
first examined the issue in 2015. Only market trend, though, this has been . The 2017 Women in Leadership
15% of decision-making vice-chancellor achieved by amendments in the Census will soon be available from
positions are filled by women. Women Companies Act of 2013, thus legislating the Businesswomen’s Association
hold the majority of chancellor seats, a at least one women representative on head office. Contact details:
largely ceremonial role with little company boards,” said Magau. 011 484 4945, nadmin@bwasa.co.za
decision-making power. Only nine China has the largest share of or www.bwasa.co.za