79 per cent of the women respondents reported being able to break through the glass ceiling to advance in their careers with the help of learning programmes
2 out of 3 women professionals felt empowered to return to work after a hiatus by upskilling themselves via professional learning programmes, as per the findings from the Emeritus India Impact Survey 2022. The survey was conducted by Emeritus, global professional education firm, to understand how professionals stay job-ready and future-proof their careers with the help of professional programmes.
According to McKinsey & Company’s global report, a ‘broken rung’ prevents women from stepping up in their career ladders as fewer women are promoted in their jobs compared to men. The Emeritus India Impact Survey found that learning programmes can help women significantly in overcoming this invisible barrier – with 82 per cent of the respondents witnessing a positive impact of the programmes within six months of having taken them and 93 per cent reporting being more effective at work after taking up a professional course.
In an encouraging sign that could help close the gender pay gap, the survey also found that reskilling and knowledge enhancement programmes helped about 79 per cent women professionals to advance in their career in current organisation, while 61 per cent moved ahead in a new organisation after taking up a programme with Emeritus. Over a quarter of women respondents also reported drawing pay checks higher by up to 50 per cent.
Owing to the stigma around career breaks and motherhood penalty (mothers being paid less than fathers) faced by several women professionals, their self-esteem also often takes a hit. The survey found that the learning programmes also helped women participants boost their self-confidence. An overwhelming 100 per cent of the respondents reported an increase in their self-confidence and leadership capabilities after finishing a programme. Women professionals also admitted that learning programmes helped them in developing their business acumen (78 per cent), building and expanding their network (95 per cent), increased job security (71 per cent), imparted necessary skills required to advance their careers (61 per cent), as well as, helped them thrive and standout in the job market (55 per cent).
