Gender & Work

A large majority of U.S. adults say it is essential for today’s business leaders to create a safe and respectful workplace. Many think female leaders are better equipped to do this than men.

Men and women in America generally agree on many of the qualities and competencies they see as essential for political and business leaders to have. But there are notable differences in the importance they ascribe to some of those qualities.

A majority of Americans would like to see more women in top leadership positions in business and politics, but many are skeptical there will ever be gender parity in these areas. Views about the state of female leadership vary by party and gender.

Only about 5% of the chief executive officers of 1,500 companies we examined were women. Among the tier of executives just below the CEO in terms of pay and position in the corporate hierarchy, 11.5% were women.

Many Americans see new difficulties for men in workplace interactions and little effect on women's career opportunities amid the increased focus on sexual harassment and assault.

The American workplace remains segregated by gender, and women in majority-male workplaces are more likely than other women to report gender discrimination.

Allegations about sexual misconduct by prominent men in politics, entertainment, media and other industries have reverberated across the United States in recent months, drawing attention to issues of gender equality in the workplace and in broader American society.

About four-in-ten working U.S. women say they have faced discrimination on the job because of their gender. They report a broad array of personal experiences.

The U.S. has more foreign students enrolled in its colleges and universities than any other country in the world. Explore data about foreign students in the U.S. higher education system.

Women in the U.S. are substantially more likely than men to say gender discrimination is a major problem in the technology industry.