Survey on the Reality and Perceived Challenges of Women in Management Positions
Enworld Japan conducted a survey on the reality and perceived challenges of women in management positions. It revealed that foreign and startup companies have a higher ratio of women in management than Japanese companies, and female employees also have a high motivation for promotion. A gap in understanding challenges exists between companies and female employees.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 13:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 16:15 (290h 45m after Collected)
Enworld Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yusuke Yamamoto), a leading recruitment agency specializing in high-class and global talent in Japan, conducted a "Survey on the Reality and Perceived Challenges of Women in Management Positions" targeting hiring companies and employees working in Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies.
**[Survey Results Summary]**
* **Companies with 30% or more women in manager-level positions – a significant difference with 28% for both foreign-affiliated and startups, and 9% for Japanese companies.**
* **Female employees' motivation for promotion is over 60% in both Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies, and a high 75% in startups – the most common reason for wanting promotion is "improved income and treatment," followed by "challenge and increased discretion" and "career advancement and specialization," with no significant difference by company type.**
* **Gap in perceived challenges: 62% of companies cite "shortage of suitable candidates," while 57% of female employees cite "balancing childcare and elder care" as their top challenge.**
* **Differences in system implementation by company type: "Childcare and elder care leave" is 91% for Japanese companies, 65% for foreign-affiliated, and 64% for startups; "Equal pay and career opportunities for men and women" is 52% for startups, surpassing Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies.**
*In this survey, company types are defined as "Japanese," "Foreign-affiliated," and "Startup." Startups are companies that responded their business phase is "startup/rapid growth phase (startup)" regardless of whether they are Japanese or foreign-affiliated. Companies that responded their business phase is "mature/stable phase" and selected either Japanese or foreign-affiliated are classified as Japanese or foreign-affiliated, respectively.
**[Detailed Survey Results]**
* **Companies with 30% or more women in manager-level positions – a significant difference with 28% for both foreign-affiliated and startups, and 9% for Japanese companies.**
We asked hiring companies (hereinafter, companies) about the ratio of women in management positions at each level. When looking at the percentage of companies with a female management ratio of "30% or more" by level, differences by company type were observed.
In Japanese companies, managers were 9%, directors had no applicable cases (*), and executives remained at 9%.
On the other hand, in foreign-affiliated companies, managers were 28%, directors 24%, and executives 15%, significantly exceeding Japanese companies at all levels. Particularly for managers, foreign-affiliated companies were 28% and Japanese companies 9%, a 19-point difference (approximately 3 times the ratio).
In startups, managers were 28%, directors 12%, and executives 8%, surpassing Japanese companies, but the ratio decreased at higher levels, indicating a limited appointment to executive positions. Thus, when viewed by company type, Japanese companies generally had low ratios, foreign-affiliated companies had higher ratios at all levels, and startups had high ratios up to middle management but struggled at higher levels. [Figure 1]
*These results may be influenced by sample size and differences in organizational structure and personnel composition among companies.
[Figure 1] Please indicate the levels where the ratio of women in management (manager/section chief or higher) is 30% or more. (Companies)
* **Companies with 30% or more women in manager-level positions – a significant difference with 28% for both foreign-affiliated and startups, and 9% for Japanese companies.**
**[Survey Results Summary]**
* **Companies with 30% or more women in manager-level positions – a significant difference with 28% for both foreign-affiliated and startups, and 9% for Japanese companies.**
* **Female employees' motivation for promotion is over 60% in both Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies, and a high 75% in startups – the most common reason for wanting promotion is "improved income and treatment," followed by "challenge and increased discretion" and "career advancement and specialization," with no significant difference by company type.**
* **Gap in perceived challenges: 62% of companies cite "shortage of suitable candidates," while 57% of female employees cite "balancing childcare and elder care" as their top challenge.**
* **Differences in system implementation by company type: "Childcare and elder care leave" is 91% for Japanese companies, 65% for foreign-affiliated, and 64% for startups; "Equal pay and career opportunities for men and women" is 52% for startups, surpassing Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies.**
*In this survey, company types are defined as "Japanese," "Foreign-affiliated," and "Startup." Startups are companies that responded their business phase is "startup/rapid growth phase (startup)" regardless of whether they are Japanese or foreign-affiliated. Companies that responded their business phase is "mature/stable phase" and selected either Japanese or foreign-affiliated are classified as Japanese or foreign-affiliated, respectively.
**[Detailed Survey Results]**
* **Companies with 30% or more women in manager-level positions – a significant difference with 28% for both foreign-affiliated and startups, and 9% for Japanese companies.**
We asked hiring companies (hereinafter, companies) about the ratio of women in management positions at each level. When looking at the percentage of companies with a female management ratio of "30% or more" by level, differences by company type were observed.
In Japanese companies, managers were 9%, directors had no applicable cases (*), and executives remained at 9%.
On the other hand, in foreign-affiliated companies, managers were 28%, directors 24%, and executives 15%, significantly exceeding Japanese companies at all levels. Particularly for managers, foreign-affiliated companies were 28% and Japanese companies 9%, a 19-point difference (approximately 3 times the ratio).
In startups, managers were 28%, directors 12%, and executives 8%, surpassing Japanese companies, but the ratio decreased at higher levels, indicating a limited appointment to executive positions. Thus, when viewed by company type, Japanese companies generally had low ratios, foreign-affiliated companies had higher ratios at all levels, and startups had high ratios up to middle management but struggled at higher levels. [Figure 1]
*These results may be influenced by sample size and differences in organizational structure and personnel composition among companies.
[Figure 1] Please indicate the levels where the ratio of women in management (manager/section chief or higher) is 30% or more. (Companies)
* **Companies with 30% or more women in manager-level positions – a significant difference with 28% for both foreign-affiliated and startups, and 9% for Japanese companies.**
FAQ
What is the ratio of female managers in Japanese companies?
According to surveys, companies with more than 30% female managers are 9% for Japanese companies and 28% for foreign and startup companies.
Do female employees have a high desire for promotion?
Yes, over 60% for Japanese and foreign companies, and 75% for startups, indicating a high level of ambition.
Is there a gap in the perception of challenges between companies and female employees?
Yes, companies cite 'shortage of candidate talent' as the top issue, while female employees cite 'balancing childcare and eldercare' as their top challenge.