While each industry has different starting points, unique challenges, and specific cultural traits, the GCI indicates how well a sector uses its diversity pipeline potential via promotions and recruitment.
In 2025, the Tech Industry emerged as the top performer in gender equity, with the lowest GCI of 1.2, indicating more inclusive advancement practices for women. Pharma / Med-tech followed with a GCI of 1.4, showing fewer structural barriers. ICT & Media, new to the index, entered with a promising 1.9, outperforming established sectors like Banking and Consulting. Despite reputations that often suggest the opposite, these industries seem to be more effectively supporting women in leadership roles. In contrast, Healthcare’s GCI of 4.8 and Insurance’s 3.4 highlight ongoing inequality, particularly in fields where women are often well represented at entry levels but struggle to advance. It is worth noting that the GCI for the full sample remained unchanged at 2.1 between 2024 and 2025, indicating no overall improvement in gender equity across the total dataset.
From 2024 to 2025, the overall average remained steady at 2.1, indicating that progress on gender equity has stalled at a system-wide level. Some sectors improved, such as Consulting, which lowered its GCI from 2.2 to 2.0. Insurance increased from 3.2 to 3.4, suggesting worsening conditions despite previous gains. The Tech Industry, already the top performer in 2024 with a GCI of 1.3, became even more equitable in 2025 with a GCI of 1.2. However, the addition of Healthcare to the rankings with a GCI of 4.8 sharply emphasized where barriers remain severe. Banking and the Public Sector experienced slight setbacks, while ICT & Media debuted at 1.9, indicating a relatively balanced pipeline compared to others.
Two industries stand out for the female talent pipeline in terms of recruitment and promotions. Consulting has the strongest track record for bringing women into leadership roles, with the highest hiring rates at both senior and lower management levels. The Service Sector stands out for advancing women already in the organization, leading all industries in promotion rates at both levels. Looking at both hiring and promotion together, the Service Sector and Consulting industries emerge as the most consistent performers across the pipeline.
The Glass Ceiling Index (GCI) provides insight into gender equality across industries, especially regarding leadership and career advancement for women. A low GCI signals a healthier, more inclusive workplace, where women face fewer obstacles to promotion, encounter less gender discrimination, and are better represented in senior roles. Conversely, a high GCI indicates a strong “glass ceiling” effect: unequal career growth, underrepresentation in leadership, and persistent pay gaps. While each industry faces its own challenges, the GCI highlights which sectors are making meaningful progress and which ones are still falling behind.