Wanted: More Women in Top Jobs

GMEOC-E11 Smart

NEW YORK, New York (Achieve3000, June 5, 2015). A 2014 study asked this question: How many women hold top jobs at large companies?

The study looked at 366 companies. It found that men hold most top jobs. Women hold very few. The study also found that companies with men and women in top jobs are more successful. They are likely to make more money.

Some companies are making changes. They are working to get more women into top jobs. Countries are making changes, too. France, Norway, Spain, and Germany have set quotas. These say how many women should be on company boards.

But are quotas enough to make big changes?

Many researchers say no. They say quotas alone won't work. Companies must do more to prepare women for top jobs. They should hire and train more women workers early in their careers. Later on, the companies can promote them to top jobs.

Researchers also say that companies must do more to meet the needs of many women. For example, most workers must be at the office during certain hours. But many women are the main caretakers of their children. That makes it hard to match those hours. For many women, balancing work and family life can be hard. Companies must do more to help them.

Information for this story came from AP.

Question 1


1 / 10

There is a box on the left that is labeled Since. The box says They want more women in top jobs. There is an arrow pointing to an empty box on the right. It is labeled Then.

Think about the news story. Which fits best in the empty box above?

Some countries set quotas.
Companies are hiring more women early in their careers.
Researchers say quotas alone won't work.
Some countries did studies of companies.

1 answer

The best fit for the empty box labeled "Then" is:

Companies are hiring more women early in their careers.

This statement logically follows the reasoning that if there is a desire to have more women in top jobs, companies should take proactive steps such as hiring and training women early in their careers to prepare them for future leadership roles.