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Research Reports

Published: December 2008

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This report was updated on January 12, 2009.

The 2008 Catalyst Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners of the Fortune 500 details the percentage of corporate officer positions held by women; the percentage of top earner positions held by women; and the number of companies with zero, one, two, and three or more women officers. The appendices list the companies with 25 percent or more women corporate officers; companies with no women corporate officers; and the average number and percentage of women corporate officers by industry, geographic region, and Fortune 500 rank.

Impetus: In 1995, Catalyst began producing an annual Census to clarify the status of women corporate officers and top earners of the largest companies in the United States. The Census was designed to establish accurate statistics and to institute a benchmarking practice, with the goal of promoting women's advancement and garnering attention for this issue.

Methodology:

• The report details the gender diversity of Fortune 500 companies’ senior leadership.
• The sample comprises companies on the Fortune 500 list published May 5, 2008.
• Catalyst gathered data about these companies from public records, including annual reports, proxy statements, and company websites for the period from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008.

Findings: In 2008, women held 15.7 percent of corporate officer positions at Fortune 500 companies; in 2007, this number was 15.4 percent. Women held 6.2 percent of top earner positions; in 2007, this number was 6.7 percent. The number of companies with no women corporate officers increased from 74 in 2007 to 75 in 2008. The number of companies with three or more women corporate officers also increased from 203 in 2007 to 206 in 2008.

Sponsor: Ernst & Young