Women make up 41% of the workforce in the supply chain sector, matching an all-time high last seen in 2021, according to a recent survey.

An August report from Gartner, entitled “2023 Women in Supply Chain Survey: Women Represented at Historic Levels,” showed that a record-breaking 26% of C-suite and executive-level positions in the supply chain industry are now held by women.

Women see the most representation in the consumer goods sector, making up 43% of the market's total workforce. More than four in ten employees (42%) in the life science/healthcare sector are women. Thirty-nine percent of industrial market workers are women, and they make up 32% of the supply chain solutions and services workforce.

The number of companies that have established gender diversity objectives grew by 8% from 2022 to 70%. Less than 10% of supply chain enterprises have not created any gender diversity initiatives or plans.

Companies noticed that greater compensation was the top reason why women have left supply chain organizations. The second biggest reason why women, especially mid-level workers, have left supply chain businesses is a lack of career opportunities.

“Fortunately, according to our 2023 Women in Supply Chain Survey, women are represented within the supply chain at historic levels,” the report’s authors wrote. “Chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) must remain committed to gender diversity and prioritize goal-setting, leadership inclusion and compensation.”

A total of 225 supply chain organizational leaders from North America took part in Gartner’s survey from February 14, 2023 to March 17, 2023. Qualifying participants worked for businesses that earned at least $100 million in annual revenue.