Catalyst today released its 2006 Census of Women Corporate Officers, Top Earners, and Directors of the Fortune 500, which reveals the persistent shortage of women in corporate leadership positions. From corporate officers to board directors, women are dramatically underrepresented at the highest levels of business, according to the study.
The following is a summary of the study’s findings:
Corporate Officers and Top Earners: At the current rate of change, it could take women 47 years to reach parity with men as corporate officers of Fortune 500 companies.
- DOWN: Catalyst’s study found that women held just 15.6% of Fortune 500 corporate officer positions, down from 16.4% in 2005.
- DOWN: The number of companies with three or more women corporate officers decreased.
- STAGNANT: Women are still more than twice as likely to hold staff positions, whereas men hold roughly an equal percentage of line and staff positions. Line position experience is essential to advancement to the highest levels.
- UP: Women in top-paying positions rose to 6.7% from 6.4% in 2005
See full Press Release, in pdf format.
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