Women in Work: High Aspirations but Persistent and Emerging Barriers
We risk letting down our young women workers – the future generation of leaders.
Welcome to the evolution of Women Count by The Pipeline, a nationwide survey of 2,000 women and 500 men.
Our latest report takes a new approach because we want to understand the real barriers women face in work today from their perspective. Without data on the actual blockers to gender representation in leadership we cannot begin to address them.
What did we find? Despite soaring leadership aspirations among women of all ages and ethnicities, persistent barriers remain and new challenges are emerging. The old obstacles - caregiving responsibilities, gender and racial bias, and ageism - have not been solved. New challenges, such as the rise of AI and anti-DEI rhetoric, are creating additional hurdles.
Our report also shines a spotlight on an emerging problem: the new generation of women workers (aged 18-24) are the most pessimistic about the barriers they face, despite having high aspirations equal to their male peers. Progress is not meant to look like this and the situation demands action.
Key findings:
- Bias remains prevalent: Two in three women see gender bias as a barrier, and nearly 80% of Black women report racial or ethnic bias.
- Caregiving impacts progression: Almost half of women with caring responsibilities have missed at least a month of work, costing our economy around £10 billion a year.
- Ageism persists: More than 40% of women have been told they are either too young or too old for leadership.
- Health challenges are overlooked: A third of women with long-term health conditions experience bias – and among younger women, that figure climbs to nearly half.
- DEI is under threat: One in four women now feel less safe or comfortable at work due to the politicisation of diversity and inclusion.
- The future of work is uncertain: Almost half of young women worry that AI could replace their jobs.
Our report calls for action: from individuals, organisations, and government. Without effort and coordinated policies and initiatives, progress will continue to stall or reverse. This report does not merely present a problem; it highlights an opportunity for real, positive change for society, organisations, and the economy.
Penny James, co-Chair of FTSE Women Leaders Review:
“Whilst much progress has been made in recent years towards gender balance in British business, the survey reinforces that we have a long way still to travel to achieve equality of opportunity for women across the UK's workplaces and the business benefits such as accessing talent and improved productivity that it drives.
The Pipeline’s landmark survey provides an eye-opening perspective on women’s experiences in the workplace. I'd encourage all businesses to consider the insights and whether there are further steps they can take.”
