Is Self-Confidence Impacting Women in the Workplace?

The issue of gender equality in the workplace is still a highly debated topic. With the Western Australian economy underpinned by mining, energy and construction industries, where 90% of senior roles are occupied by males, the reason for less women willing to apply for positions has often been attributed to their lack of self-confidence, stemming from childhood and adolescence.

The latest FACTBase Bulletin by the Committee for Perth reports on the findings of the Hands up for Gender Equality study which examines gender differences in career interests and why self-confidence and self-doubt play such a significant role in limiting women’s career progress. Numerous studies into this area have shown women’s level of self-confidence, relative to men’s, declines from the age of nine and remains lower through to their mid-seventies.