Women are still underrepresented in top staffing industry leadership roles, according to a new study by the Women Business Collaborative.

It found women represent only half of executive positions at staffing firms despite representing a median 66% of staffing firm internal workers. And women held just 33% of staffing industry board seats, down 3% year over year.

“This is our third year to publish this landmark survey measuring gender equity progress across the staffing industry,” said Kip Wright, WBC board member. “The survey shows both incremental progress while still making it clear that more needs to be done to open doors to leadership roles for women in staffing.”

Research data from the study with SIA analysis, Insights on Gender Parity in the US Staffing Industry 2023, is available online.

“Although progress is slow, the staffing industry does perform better than the broader world of work. Organizations should use this data as a catalyst for continued improvement,” said Ursula Williams, chief operating officer for SIA. “Our research continues to show gender equity is so much more than an initiative; it is a vital demand necessary in every corner of the staffing industry. Empowering women in staffing leadership unlocks diverse perspectives, fosters innovation and establishes a more dynamic and progressive approach for the industry and society overall.”

Other findings in the study:

• Women accounted for 36% of staffing firm founders and 40% of CEO positions. Commercial staffing had the highest representation at 37%, followed by healthcare staffing at 36%.
• When the founder of the company was a woman, 84% of CEOs were female. Conversely, only 17% of CEOs were female if the founder of the staffing firm was male.
• Interestingly, staffing firms with a female CEO received a very positive Net Promoter Score of 83, compared to an NPS of 47 for the staffing firms with a male CEO. However, other factors could be at play.
• Staffing companies with female CEOs scored higher employee satisfaction rates in all areas recorded. Female CEOs scored, on average, 87% in meeting their staffs’ expectations compared to 77% if the staffing company CEO was male.
• DE&I and well-being rank low in concerns and priorities based on study data. New business development ranked as the most pressing concern/priority cited by 68% of respondents.
• Only half of survey respondents measure, track and analyze pay equity in their organization. Men are significantly more optimistic than women about gender and ethnic pay equity.

The study was conducted by the WBC with support from the American Staffing Association, the National Association of Personnel Services, Staffing Industry Analysts and the TechServe Alliance.

“This survey underscores the positive standing of our industry compared to others, highlighting strong representation of women. However, it also reveals a stark contrast within our c-suites, where gender parity for women is lacking,” NAPS Chari Teresa Delibert said.

“The findings emphasize the collective journey towards achieving gender equity and fair pay in the staffing industry as well as across various sectors,” Delibert said. “Despite optimistic timelines expressed by respondents, realizing these expectations will require a substantial effort. As the chairperson for NAPS, I take pride in our commitment to equity and inclusion. I encourage organizations to leverage this data as a catalyst for positive change, steering us in the right direction towards a more inclusive future.”

The study’s survey included more than 600 responses.

"The persistent underrepresentation of women at the leadership levels is a stark reminder that our industry must continue its efforts to be more proactive and intentional toward creating equal opportunities. Tracking and measuring pay equity within a staffing firm is critical to achieving this goal,” said Susan Donohoe, chief of staff and chief program officer at TechServe Alliance.

“Promoting gender diversity in the C-suite is not just a matter of social responsibility; it is a strategic business imperative that can positively impact a company's performance, culture and long-term sustainability,” Donohoe said. “We have an opportunity here as an industry to strive for better and foster an environment where women can thrive and contribute at every level.”

The ASA is hosting a webinar to review some of the findings in the study at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Dec. 14.

“Women need access to more opportunities to thrive in staffing. Conversations like the upcoming webinar are vital to keeping the topic of developing future women leaders in staffing front and center in our industry,” said Joanie Bily, chair of ASA. “I’m proud to serve as chair of the American Staffing Association, an organization whose board has achieved gender parity. ASA will continue to help women staffing leaders receive the support they need to reach their full career potentials.”

Survey questions ranged from the composition of board, CEO and executive roles to the underlying gender-related demographics of the business. It was developed to facilitate the publication of the survey in a dynamic dashboard that would allow readers to view differing dimensions of each answer based on those underlying demographics.