2026 WEPs Awards honor leaders driving gender equality
- The 2026 WEPs Awards recognize leaders implementing gender equality commitments.
- Enterprises with a woman as board chair are 17.1 percent more likely to report increased profits.
- Women now account for 46.4 percent of tertiary education enrollment globally.
- The gender pay gap results in women earning US$0.78 for every dollar a man earns.
- Research indicates that gender diversity in leadership could add trillions to global GDP.
The ceremony recognizes organizations that implement their commitments to gender equality. These principles are a joint initiative created by UN Women and the UN Global Compact.
ILO report reveals progress and barriers in business leadership
The report finds that women remain under-represented in business and management roles across all regions.
While the share of women in senior leadership positions like CEOs and board members has increased, women still face structural barriers to advancement. Currently, 26.3 percent of functions associated with executive leadership pathways are held by women.
Gender diversity initiatives correlate with increased profits
Enterprises with gender equality and diversity initiatives have seen an increase of 11.1 percentage points since 2018. Astrid-online.it reported that 74.1 percent of enterprises currently have these initiatives, while 70.1 percent maintain equal pay programs.
Companies with a woman serving as board chair are 17.1 percent more likely to report increased profits.
Rising tertiary education enrollment for women
Tertiary education enrollment for women rose from 15.1 percent in 1995 to 46.4 percent in 2023. In 2023, 46.4 percent of women attended tertiary education, compared to 40.3 percent of men.
Women represent 35 percent of tertiary STEM graduates globally. In specific STEM fields, 94.2 percent of women are enrolled, compared to 64.8 percent of men.
Regional disparities in labor market participation
The gender gap in labor participation rates narrowed by 3.8 percentage points. In the Asia and the Pacific region, 46.4 percent of women participate in the labor market.
The Arab States have the lowest proportion of female employers at 7.8 percent, according to ILO estimates from November 2025.
Regional female employer percentages stand at 18.4 percent in the Americas and 14.7 percent in Europe and Central Asia.
Persistent pay gaps and employment recovery challenges
Women earn $0.78 for every dollar a man earns. Mothers face a deeper penalty, earning $0.65 and $0.62 for every dollar a man earns.
The International Labour Office reported in November 2024 that women’s employment recovery trailed men by 1.7 percentage points.
Sector-specific employment and national labor challenges
According to IRENA 2025 data, women account for 32 per cent of female employment in the renewable energy sector.
Türkiye faces high youth unemployment and low female labor participation, according to 2026 data. The nation must address ongoing income inequalities and gender gaps in the labor market.
Industry expert contribution to global research
Castro-Caliwara, the founder and chief executive officer of Executive Genesis Services, Inc. in the Philippines, participated in the development of the 2026 report.
Frequently Asked Questions
- WEPs awards and business forum drive women’s economic empowerment (khmertimeskh.com)
- Pakistan's First National Women's Empowerment ... (instagram.com)
- Turning Gender Equality Commitments into Action The EU ... (facebook.com)
- Women in business and management: Scaling success (astrid-online.it)
- Brussels, 4.11.2026 SWD(2026) 696 final COMMISSION ... (enlargement.ec.europa.eu)
Add NewsPulse Time as a preferred source on Google