Australia lags behind Thailand on women bosses

AUSTRALIA has more women in senior management jobs than the global average, but it is still streets behind the world's forerunner, Thailand.

Research by business consultant Grant Thornton has found that the number of women holding senior management positions in Australian privately held businesses has grown 4 per cent since 2009.

It found that 27 per cent of senior positions are held by women, ahead of the global average of 20 per cent.

But the consultant says there is still significant work to be done.

Despite the improvement, Australia is still ranked 16th in the world, trailing Thailand where women hold 45 per cent of senior management roles.

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"While Thailand's high ranking may come as a surprise to some, we believe that the availability and affordability of external assistance like extended family, nannies, nurseries and childcare has made it easier for women to move back to the workforce," Grant Thornton Australia director and leader of its Women's Initiative Nicole Bradley says.

I think another added factor is the large number of family owned businesses where both the sons and daughters have a management role.

Unfortunately the labor party has a quota system in place and the pressure is on all businesses to employ more women, including in senior management rolls. This has led to a lot of people being given positions that they aren't ready for.

Also, because of the disruption to the workforce when a woman goes on maternity leave, and the costs of this to the business, many small businesses just can't afford to employ women and you will find we will fall further down the list in the years to come.