Number of women in global meat industry workforce drops

Women now make up 23% of board-level director roles (up from 14% in 2020), 32% of high-level leadership roles (up from 22%) and 32% of middle manager roles (up from 29%).

The report highlights progress against a number of themes, with positive shifts in how the industry is perceived, repaired rungs in the senior leadership career ladder, moving inclusion up the agenda and greater access to role models and networks.

However, despite this progress, the research shows that only 18% of chief executive roles are held by women (up by 3% since 2020) and the total number of women in the global workforce has dropped to 33.5% (down from 36%). Women now make up only 36% of the unskilled workforce, falling from 40%.

The report revealed that the fap between the most inclusive and least inclusive meat businesses is widening.

Flexible working is ranked as the number one enabler of gender inclusion in the industry and the report shows that to shift the dial, women and men need to work together.

Founder and global chair of Meat Business Women Laura Ryan says the data shows that inclusion is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’, but is instead a necessity if the industry is to thrive in the years to come.

“Whilst there is greater disparity in the industry than there was in 2020, there is a huge opportunity for further pre-competitive working on best practice and key workforce policy issues.

“There has never been a more important time to remember that a rising tide lifts all boats,” she says.

The Meat Business Women strategy has been focused on shifting the dial on the priority themes of industry perception and gender balance through global campaigns, role modelling, networking and mentoring.

With these latest industry insights, Meat Business Women says it will continue to engage with industry leaders to attract, retain and progress talent at every level, whilst actively championing the meat industry as a positive place to build a career.

Meat Business Women was launched in New Zealand in 2019, supported by territory partners Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd, The Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc.