GENEVA: Companies that improve gender diversity - especially at the top - perform better and rake in higher profits, while countries that increase women employment see better economic growth, the UN said Wednesday .
And some 57 per cent said growing the number of women at the top made it easier to attract and retain talent, while nearly as many said they saw improvements in creativity, innovation and openness, and an enhancement of the company's reputation. Gender balance in senior management is defined as 40-60 per cent of either gender, and the ILO said the beneficial effects of gender diversity begin to kick in when women hold at least 30 per cent of senior management and leadership positions.
"The glass ceiling is still intact. There are some cracks in it but there is still some way to go," France-Massin told reporters in Geneva. Globally, only around 20 per cent of chief executives are women, and the ones that do get to the top generally run smaller companies.