The number of companies with both genders on boards of directors decreased by 16 last year, despite the fact that the number of registered companies has risen by over two thousand over the same time period. This means that the percentage of companies with both genders on their boards decreased from 15% to 14%.

The figures showing the decrease were published on Wednesday afternoon, at the annual general meeting of the The Icelandic Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FKA). In total, 30,337 companies were surveyed last year, compared to 32,515 this year. Companies with men exclusively in charge numbered 21,940 last year, in comparison with 23,291 this year, an increase of 1,801, whereas those companies with just women in charge totalled 4,275 last year, or 4,668 this year, increasing by 393.

A cooperation agreement was signed in May last year between The Icelandic Association of Women Entrepreneurs, The Confederation of Icelandic Employers (SA) and The Iceland Chamber of Commerce (VI), with a view to increasing female presence amongst the leaders of the Icelandic economy, so that by 2013 the percentage of each gender on boards would be no less than 40%. At the same time, it was agreed that the company CreditInfo would perform annual assessments of the results of the agreement; the company published its first assessment today.

On the council of Virkjum konur og karla (“Let’s motivate women and men”), a meeting held in January 2010, it was also decided to survey the number of companies conforming to the specified gender quota of at least 40% of each gender by 2013. The assessment showed that companies with a gender ratio of 40:60 women to men, or one third of a board consisting of three members, totalled 4,321. These companies have increased in number by 22, and therefore now total 4,323.

Source: mbl.is
Image: gcoldironjr2003

Labels: Employment, Gender, Women