Fewer companies are prioritizing women’s career advancement, continuing a trend in declining corporate commitment to gender diversity, according to the recently released 11th annual Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org.
Only 54% of companies surveyed said women’s career advancement was a high priority this year; a decline from 2019 when 87% of companies said gender diversity was a high priority.
One in six companies have scaled back their commitment to diversity and inclusion programs, according to the report, which is based on data from 124 companies employing 3 million people, surveys of 9,500 employees, and interviews with 62 HR leaders. These reductions include cuts to initiatives such as remote and hybrid options, flexible work hours, formal sponsorship programs, and career development programs with content for women.
For the first time, an “ambition gap” also emerged. The report found that while both women and men are equally committed to their careers and motivated to do their best work, only 80% of women overall say they want to be promoted, compared to 86% of men.
The ambition gap is most pronounced at the entry-level and senior-leader levels. The report said only 69% of entry-level women want a promotion compared to 80% of entry-level men. At the senior level, 84% of women want to be promoted versus 92% of men.
For some women, personal obligations can make it harder to aspire to the next level. Almost 25% of entry- and senior-level women who don't want a promotion say personal obligations make it difficult to take on more work, compared to just 15% of men at these levels.
Entry-level women also face an opportunity gap because they are far less likely than men to become people managers, the report said. Just 31% of entry-level women are managers, therefore, more entry-level men are on a career path that can lead to a promotion.
“This is a solvable problem, but it requires a greater investment in women’s careers at a time when a number of companies may be deprioritizing them,” the report said.
“Corporate America has made real progress in women’s representation over the past decade — and companies that prioritize gender diversity see bigger gains,” the report said. “For companies that lost focus this year, 2026 should be the year of recommitting to women in the workplace.”
Go here to read the entire Women in the Workplace report released on Dec. 9.
