New Report Highlights Progress on Gender Equality in Employers’ Organisations

IOE and the ILO’s Bureau for Employers' Activities assessed progress made by national employer and business membership organisations over six years.

A recent report by IOE and the International Labour Organization’s Bureau for Employers' Activities (ILO-ACT/EMP) reveals that an increasing number of national business organisations are making strides in fostering gender equality within their ranks. However, the report also emphasises the need for these organisations to continue working on removing the obstacles that persist hindering women's career advancement and involvement in decision-making processes.

The report underscores that a significant majority (81 percent) of employers’ organisations surveyed are actively advocating for greater gender equality, collaborating with national governments and workers’ institutions. Their advocacy efforts primarily focus on achieving equal pay for work of equal value (37 percent), promoting women's leadership roles (22 percent), and fostering diversity and inclusion in business environments (12 percent).

These findings carry particular significance due to the considerable influence of national employers’ organisations within the private sector. As leaders within the business community, they serve as exemplars and are instrumental in driving progress towards gender equality and diversity.

For further details, the complete report Women in business: How employer and business membership organizations drive gender equality is available in the “Resources” section.