A new poll from Ipsos Reid, commissioned by Randstad Canada, has found that the best career opportunities for women still lie in the healthcare and teaching industries.
According to the survey results, more than half of female managers and executives polled believe that the healthcare and education sectors provide the best opportunities for women to move into managerial/executive positions in the next three to five years. Fifty-eight percent think the healthcare sector provided the most room for growth, topping the list, while slightly over half (52%) foresee the education sector providing the best opportunities.
Other fields that were mentioned as providing ample room for advancement were the following:
- not-for-profit sector (35%);
- financial services (32%);
- hospitality (29%);
- professional services (23%);
- the public sector (22%);
- information technology (11%);
- engineering and construction (6%);
- oil and gas (3%); and
- transportation and logistics (2%).
Molly Huber, vice-president, western region, with Randstad Technologies, says she is not surprised by this list. “Women have traditionally led in fields like education, but their dominance in fields such as business, finance and professional services comes as no surprise. Even in fields they do not currently dominate, it is undeniable that women are making significant strides in what are typically considered male-driven job markets.”
But Huber says many organizations, from all industries, still need to work harder to improve gender diversity at the executive level. “Companies need to do more to advance female talent by providing leadership training, mentoring and coaching, and creating opportunities for women with leadership potential to progress from more junior roles,” she says.