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2007 Catalyst Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners of the Fortune 500

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Research Reports

Published: December 2007

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For the second year, Catalyst presents its hallmark Census of women corporate officers and top earners as a web-only feature and in a new graphic format. This document details the percentage of corporate officer positions held by women, the percentage of top earner jobs held by women, the percentage of women and men corporate officers in line and staff positions, and the number of companies with zero, one, two, and three or more women officers. The appendices list the companies with 25 percent or more women corporate officers, companies with no women corporate officers, companies by industry, and the average number and percentage of women directors by industry, geographic region, and Fortune 500 rank.

Impetus: In 1995, Catalyst began to produce an annual Census to clarify the status of women corporate officers and top earners of the largest companies in the United States. The Census was designed to establish accurate statistics, to create a way to use the standard practice of benchmarking to promote women's advancement, and to generate focused attention on this issue.

Methodology:

  • Catalyst analyzed the leadership of each company in the Fortune 500 as published in April 2007.
  • Catalyst reported the data we obtained from public records including annual reports, proxy statements, and company websites.
  • The report details the gender diversity of corporate governance at Fortune 500 companies as of April 1, 2007.

Findings: In 2007, women held 15.4 percent of corporate officer positions at Fortune 500 companies. This number was 15.6 percent in 2006. Women held 6.7 percent of top earner positions. This number was the same in 2006. The number of companies with no women corporate officers increased from 64 in 2006 to 74 in 2007. The number of companies with three or more women corporate officers also decreased from 234 in 2006 to 203 in 2007. The number of women in line positions decreased from 29.0 percent to 27.2 percent and the number of women in staff positions increased from 71.0 percent to 72.8 percent.

Appendices:

 

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