Talking Talent

Men may still lead most of our professional industries in Australia, but it is women who hold the key to their collective future.

A report issued last year by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific concludes that restricting women’s job opportunities costs the region up to $47 billion each year.

The same report suggests that as a nation’s female employment rate rises, so does its GDP.

At the same time, the fast pace of life is taking its toll on women across the economy. While one in six Australian women reported feeling rushed in 1974, by 1997, seven out of eight women felt like life had become more frantic. Women are not returning from maternity leave or resigning because they are unable to combine work and family demands.

The cost to industry is high. NRMA estimates that it costs $48,000 to replace a manager, $29,000 to replace senior specialists and $12,000 to replace other staff.

So, how we support women at every stage of their careers?