International Womens Day 2024
At the core of international women’s day, we are looking to shift the dial in achieving gender equality. This is a day to highlight the importance of investing in women and being vocal, persistent and proactive in attempts to achieve gender equality. Despite making up half the world’s population women are not fulfilling their potential in employment and economic growth. Empowering and supporting women helps foster a better-balanced society. It contributes to a more productive and innovative economy and unlocks a powerful talent pool for business. We must address the gender imbalances in the workplace.
Remarkable strides have been taken to enhance gender equality in Ireland. This progress reflects the exceptional work achieved by the business community to enhance female representation, to tackle barriers and to access and correct processes and policies that hinders women from prevailing professionally. Over the past five years, the proportion of women service on the boards of listed companies has grown by an impressive 21 percentage points. This achievement excels Ireland’s initial targets but also propels Ireland into the ranks of the top 10 EU member states for gender representation in both boards and leadership positions. There has been a consistent reduction of listed companies with all-male boards, reducing from fourteen in 2018, five in 2022 and just two in 2023.
The efforts by business to accomplish this change should not be underestimated and deserve recognition. It is also crucial to sustain this momentum of change in all areas of inclusion. While progress is being made targets continue to be missed for gender representation on leadership teams. This highlights the importance of building strong pipelines of female talent. Establishing an internal pipeline of talent helps create a culture of inclusion and role models an organisations dedication to the progression of women.
A strategic move for businesses
International Women's Day serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of gender equality in all aspects of life, particularly in the workplace. Recognising the value of investing in the empowerment of women is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic move for companies looking to accelerate progress in employment and contribute to sustainable economic growth. We know that companies with a diverse and inclusive workforce perform better. As well as improving productivity gender diversity strengthens team dynamics and improves decision-making processes. Therefore, by investing in women’s employment companies gain a competitive advantage.
Each organisation should nurture female talent internally and demonstrate their commitment to gender equality. To further inspire inclusion, we must also ensure we do not have unintentional biases or barriers in place that hinder female success and progression to make a tangible impact on inclusion.
This IWD take the time to stand with inclusion and belonging. We can take stock of how far we have come but focus on growth. Review and improve your own actions and the processes of your business to help create gender equality. For more information on how you can celebrate please find official resources and guidance below:
International Women’s Day: #InspireInclusion - 8th March
Is both a celebration and a call to action
IWD is one of the most important days of the year to:
- Celebrate women’s achievements
- Educate and awareness raise about women’s equality
- Call for positive change advancing women
- Lobby for accelerated gender parity
- Fundraise for female-focused charities
Free IWD 2024 Planning Toolkit
By aligning with the global commitment to gender equality, businesses can create a more robust and sustainable future.
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Samantha Owens is a policy executive in Ibec, specialising in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
