The number of female assignees in international mobility programs has held steady over the last 20 years. Industry studies show only slight shifts with the high-end percentages usually around 20% and 16% often cited as the average.
Even though a small number of industries and companies may have higher percentages, the number of female assignees overall remain low, accounting for less than 5% of the population.
There are occasional demographic correlations of a company’s general population, especially for those in traditionally male-dominated industries. In 2014, Crown World Mobility conducted research on Global Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and looked for links between D&I and Mobility. The research shows that across many industries, global companies with a widerange of headquarter locations are investing heavily in D&I strategies. Their aim is to recruit and retain women in their organizations, especially for senior management positions. These companies see this as a business imperative that has a positive impact on their bottom line. For global companies that require senior leaders with international experience and a global perspective, any barriers to assignment opportunities for women need to be addressed.
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