The Business Case for Advancing Women in the Workplace

Women represent half of the world’s employment potential but are underrepresented in the global workforce at all levels, and they are often excluded from formal employment opportunities. This is not simply an issue of fairness; it’s a missed economic opportunity. Research shows that more balanced representation of men and women pays dividends. In a study of Fortune 500 companies, Catalyst found that firms with a greater mix of men and women in management had 35 percent better return on equity than firms with less of a mix. Tapping into women’s unique contributions and experiences can strengthen organizations in lucrative industries and add trillions to global GDP.

Resilient, reliable, and commercially viable companies and organizations fuel economic growth, bolster economies, catalyze social development, and support nations on their journey to self-reliance. Working with partner organizations to better understand gaps between men and women and design interventions in outreach and recruitment, mentorship and leadership, and professional development can sharpen an organization’s competitive advantage.

The "Business Case" for Advancing Women in the Workforce

A business case provides justification for undertaking a project, program, or portfolio. It evaluates the benefit, cost, and risk of alternative options and provides a rationale for the preferred solution.

The "Business Case" for Advancing Women in the Workforce

Increased profitability and organizational performance

The top 25 percent of companies with the most balanced representation of men and women on executive leadership teams are 47 percent more profitable than those in the bottom 25 percent.

Improved national productivity and economic growth

Excluding women from the workforce leads to inefficient economies, unequal growth, and missed development opportunities. McKinsey estimates that achieving more equitable representation of men and women in the workplace could add as much as $12 trillion to the global economy.

Resilient workplaces and national economies that can withstand shocks

Business cultures with a greater balance of men and women experience a 59.1 percent increase in creativity, innovation, and openness and a 37.9 percent better assessment of consumer demand.

The Business Case

Engendering Industries supports partners in empowering women in the workplace, enabling them to contribute to business objectives and performance.

Best Practices for Developing a Business Case

Use our Best Practices Framework tool and learn how to build a business case.

More Knowledge Centers

Addressing Workplace Harassment and Violence

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Companies that use survivor-centered approaches and create safe and violence-free workplaces perform better across several business metrics.
Using Data to Advance Women’s Workforce Participation

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Collecting, analyzing, and using sex-disaggregated data allows companies to identify where women are underrepresented across the company and make data-informed, strategic decisions to close these gaps.
Policies to Advance Women in the Workplace

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HR policies are fundamental for establishing a positive workplace culture and fostering each employee’s work experience and career progression.