What explains the drop in women’s senior appointments since 2022?

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Decline in Women’s Senior Appointments Since 2022 Explained by Tightening Labour Markets

Since 2022, the proportion of women appointed to new senior leadership roles has seen a consistent decline, a trend observed globally. This downturn is particularly pronounced when labour markets tighten, leading to a disproportionate decrease in the hiring of women into leadership positions, especially within industries where they are already underrepresented. These patterns are attributed to systemic barriers, rather than any deficiency in women's capabilities.
Global Trends Show a Reversal in Leadership Parity

Globally, women constitute 41.2 per cent of the workforce but hold only 28.1 per cent of leadership positions. This persistent gap, referred to as a "drop-to-the-top," highlights systemic challenges. Recent data indicates a regression in leadership parity, with the share of women in new senior leadership appointments peaking at 34.8 per cent in 2022. This figure has since fallen for three consecutive years, reaching 32.8 per cent by the first quarter of 2025.
Board Appointments Mirror Declining Trend

The trend of declining female representation is also evident in board appointments. In 2020, women accounted for 17.2 per cent of board appointments, a figure that decreased to 14.2 per cent by 2024. This downward trajectory in both senior leadership and board roles suggests a broader challenge in advancing gender parity at the highest levels of organisations.
Labour Market Tightness Disproportionately Affects Women's Hiring

Evidence suggests that during periods of labour market tightening, the hiring of women into leadership roles declines disproportionately. This effect is amplified in industries where women are already a minority. Such a trend indicates that systemic issues, rather than individual competence, are the primary drivers behind the reduced representation of women in senior positions.
Systemic Barriers Identified as Root Cause

The observed decline in women's senior appointments is attributed to systemic barriers rather than a lack of capability among women. The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026 notes that in an environment of accelerating technological change, geopolitical instability, and societal polarization, leadership teams require diverse perspectives. However, despite progress in education and workforce participation, women remain significantly underrepresented at the top, indicating that underlying structural issues impede their advancement.

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What explains the drop in women’s senior appointments since 2022?

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