Malaysia Highest in ASEAN For Women in Workforce

The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) has revealed that Malaysia has the highest number of women in the workforce, of up to 40%, compared with other Asean countries.

However, the country had the lowest senior roles occupied by women, at only 26%.

IBR data shows that Malaysia has the lowest senior roles occupied by women in the ASEAN region with only 26% despite having most women in their workforce in the region.

The data has also showed that Malaysia is the 3rd lowest globally to have women on board. Russia has the highest number of women on board (37%), followed by Thailand (35%) and Philippines (34%).

The positions held most by women in the senior management are Human Resource Director (37 per cent), Chief Financial Officer (36 per cent) and Sales Director (23 per cent).

To correct that balance, the government maintains an active waiting list with 500 women that are qualified to fill directorships while another 500 women will be trained under Budget2013 initiatives.

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Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) reveals that globally, more women are making it into senior management roles than at any time since 2010.

The data in this report are drawn from more than 6,500 interviews with business leaders from all industry sectors, conducted between November 2012 and February 2013.

Launched in 2002, IBR is a quarterly survey of 3,500 senior executives in listed and privately-held businesses around the world.

This report explores the global shift in the number of women at the top of the business world and examines ways to make this growth permanent and parity possible.

Grant Thornton is one of the world's leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms.

The International Business Report (IBR) is a research project conducted by an independent market research agency, Experian, and commissioned by Grant Thornton International.