Female leadership in Japan hits 8.4% in 2024

A groundbreaking shift is underway in the corporate landscape of Japan, as women are increasingly stepping into top leadership roles.

According to a report by Teikoku Databank, the percentage of organisations led by female presidents has reached a new high of 8.4% in 2024, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s 8.3% and 8% in 2020.

Since 1990, the number of female CEOs has nearly doubled, indicating a growing trend towards gender diversity in corporate leadership. Teikoku Databank’s study analysed over 1.19 million organisations, offering insights into the evolving role of women in Japanese organisations.

While women continue to make strides in managerial positions, with 10.9% now holding such roles, the report highlighted a disparity between small and large organisations. Female presidents are more prevalent in smaller organisations, with 11.9% of organisations with less than 50 million yen in annual sales having a female CEO. In contrast, this figure drops to 2% for organisations with 10 billion yen or more in sales.

Tracey Gopel, Founder and CEO of Third Arrow Strategies and the Japan Board Diversity Network, emphasised the stark difference between leading a small organisation and a large, publicly traded corporation. She pointed out that while women are making inroads, significant challenges remain, particularly in terms of breaking the glass ceiling at major corporations.

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Mitsuko Tottori, the newly appointed president of Japan Airlines, serves as a prominent example of a women who has shattered traditional barriers in the corporate world. Her appointment has sparked hope for increased female representation in high-level positions.

To further accelerate progress, the Japanese government has implemented various initiatives, including the Womenomics policy, aimed at empowering women in the workforce. The goal is to increase the percentage of women in managerial roles to 30% by 2030. Additionally, proposed regulations may require organisations to disclose the gender diversity of their leadership.

While substantial progress has been made, challenges persist. The report revealed significant disparities across industries, with real estate leading the way with 17.4% of organisations headed by women, while construction lags behind at 4.9%, reported The Japan Times.