More than half of Saudi residents envision a woman as the future leader of their organisation, according to a recent report.
The report conducted by management consulting firm Kearney, found that also found that 54 percent believe that having more women in leadership positions would have a positive impact on their business.
The study, conducted ahead of International Women’s Day 2023, explored attitudes towards women in leadership roles, the path to progress, and the challenges faced. Despite progress towards a more equitable work environment, the private sector still has work to do in paving the way for female talent.
Over the past five years, the Kingdom has implemented various policies and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity and diversity to facilitate women’s entry into the labor market. This effort has led to a significant increase in female labor participation, reaching 37 percent in 2022 compared to 17 percent in 2016.
The study by Kearney also highlights that women’s aspirations are high, with 76 percent stating that reaching top leadership positions is crucial to them. While 71 percent feel that they have opportunities to lead at work, 81 percent find it challenging to receive the necessary support to take on these roles.
“Vision 2030 places an emphasis on the growing role of women in the national economy. The unparalleled spike in female participation in the workforce is driven by the legislations and host of national initiatives,” said Wiam Hasanain, Director at Kearney Middle East & Africa.
“The research revealed business leaders harbor unconscious biases, that affect hiring, promotion, and retainment of women. Organisations have a responsibility to rid their HR systems of such biases, enabling a competent and diverse set of leaders at the table in the future.”
When asked about organisational support for career development, only 25 percent of respondents claimed to receive regular training and development, and 24 percent were offered opportunities for regular career reviews and promotions.
Women cited overly ambitious workplace goals (33 percent), a lack of encouragement to lead due to organisational culture (21 percent), and coworker discrimination (19 percent) as key challenges. 74 percent of respondents, both men and women, identified a leadership team committed to diversity and inclusion as a key priority, highlighting the role of business leaders in fostering a diverse and equitable workplace. While 61 percent reported diversity, equity, and inclusion targets, only 15 percent were publicly announced, and 24 percent of respondents believed their organisation lacked such targets.
“Currently, it is not mandated for private sector companies to publicly state their targets around having a more inclusive workforce, however, it is an important step towards instilling accountability. This will ensure that the leadership team proactively works towards hiring and nurturing female talent to provide them with the skills, tools and opportunities needed to progress, ultimately contributing to the development of the local economy in support of Vision 2030, as well as the realisation the UN SDG Goal 5 of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls,” said Norah Alajaji, Manager at Kearney Middle East.
