Research by business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran into gender and diversity in the aviation sector has revealed an industry where female employees still struggle to progress to senior leadership positions.

More than half of the respondents to the Mason Hayes & Curran survey said that over 30 per cent of the total headcount in their companies is female

However, the percentage of senior positions held by women is still low, with only 16 per cent of the respondents indicating that there are over 30 per cent of senior roles held by women in their organisations.

Findings

This is the third year of the survey and results are being monitored and year three findings show little improvement.

“While the period under review, at three years, is relatively short, the lack of progress and change is a cause for concern particularly given the continuing spotlight on the issue of gender and diversity in our community”, said Christine O’Donovan, (pictured above) head of aviation and international asset finance at Mason Hayes & Curran.

Challenge

Just twelve per cent of respondents, however, saw gender or diversity bias as a challenge to career progression in their organisation. 

The greatest challenge is work/life balance with 32 per cent of participants concerned about it.