Women, 50-65, leaving workforce earlier than men - report

A recent report from Balance for Better Business (B4BB) has revealed that women aged 50-65 are leaving the workforce earlier than men, resulting in a diminished pool of experienced talent for senior leadership and board roles. The research has identified several factors contributing to this trend, including menopause, caregiving responsibilities, burnout, ageism in the workplace, and barriers to career progression.

Ireland's gap in workforce participation between men and women aged 55-65 is larger than the EU average, despite overall high participation rates for women. This early exit of experienced women from the workforce could lead organizations to lose valuable talent and future leadership candidates. The report makes several recommendations to address this issue, such as recognizing and supporting women's caregiving responsibilities, tackling ageism and gender bias, investing in upskilling, promoting flexible working, and addressing menopause as a retention issue.

Carolan Lennon, Co-Chair of B4BB, emphasized the importance of retaining experienced women as a strategic priority. Bernard Byrne, Co-Chair of B4BB, noted that the earlier exit of many women from the workforce has broader implications beyond individual organizations. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke highlighted the research's findings that many experienced women face barriers that may cause them to leave the workforce at a younger age.

By addressing these barriers through supportive workplace policies, increased flexibility, and other measures, the government aims to ensure that talented women continue to participate actively in the workforce and advance into leadership positions. Balance for Better Business is an independent group founded by the Irish government in July 2018 to promote gender balance in board and leadership roles within Irish businesses.