Following the recent CBI-led ëWomen and Work Commissioní report - currently exposing and reporting the widespread differences between the earnings of men and women - the UKís leading specialist providers of business contact information, www.findasupplier.info has thrown further light into the imbalance of the situation facing the female workforce.
Its in-depth analysis specifically into the HR and Personnel sectors - which traditionally has market perceptions of a high percentage of women employees - however, shows alarming trends when it comes to their role in key functions such as the decision-making process. At the more junior office level and below, the split was hugely female biased (84%) whilst male representation was a mere 16%. The gap started narrowing at managerial level (females at 70% and males at 30%) and at director level showed the most significant division where the male to female ratio was practically in equal proportions. The overall figures in HR indicates that males only account for 29% whilst females form 71% of the industry total, echoing the most recent CIPD statistics (male 28%, female 72%) amongst its 124,500 members, which indicates that women are held back from attaining the top job slots in HR and personnel.
The extraordinary findings came whilst www.findasupplier.info was developing the 2006 version of its online service, which contains the UKís and Irelandís largest free online supplier listings and is regarded as one of the most invaluable tools for the HR and personnel industries, amongst others.
The online company signifies these startling statistics in relation to the HR and Personnel industries as quite alarming, particularly given that key decisions such as supplier selection and recruitment happen primarily at director level. It says that, whilst women are expected to ìcarry the organisationî at junior and middle ranking levels, when it comes to the key decision making point, the balance is shifted more towards their male counterparts. Also, suppliers who think they are targeting females as decision-makers, are making incorrect assumptions, due to the imbalances at senior level.
Jacinta Tobin, Head of Sales and Marketing at www.findasupplier.info comments: ìIn this day and age, it is appalling that ambitious women who aspire to climb to the top of the career ladder in HR and Personnel, are stopped in their tracks at directorial and board level. There should be no place for the ëglass ceilingí to even exist, given that as far back as 30 years ago, the Sex Discrimination Act came into force. If the UK has any hope of being recognised as a nation of forward-thinking employer values, it had better start making significant changes to its male-biased policies embedded in the Victorian era.î she added.
For more information visit www.findasupplier.info
Are women in HR and Personnel Top Dog? - Think again says new report
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