Women’s Workforce Participation Stalls in U.S. Corporations

Recent data show that the long‑term rise of women in senior corporate roles in the United States has halted. An S&P analysis found the share of newly appointed female executives at publicly listed U.S. companies fell in 2024 for the first time in two decades, and the number of new board seats held by women has been declining since 2020. Major banks reflect the trend: Goldman Sachs reported a drop in women promoted to partner and managing director, while JPMorgan Chase’s succession lineup for CEO Jamie Dimon is now entirely male.

Surveys by McKinsey, Lean In and PwC reveal that women’s interest in promotions has plateaued, with only about 69 % of female entry‑level employees seeking advancement compared with 80 % of men. Despite women now outnumbering men in university enrolments and achieving higher representation in high‑pay professions, the gender pay gap is widening again and corporate commitment to women’s advancement appears to be waning.