It’s easy to believe that Sweden and Europe are at the forefront of gender equality. However, surprising numbers suggest otherwise.
Many of us – myself included – have always seen Sweden as a role model when it comes to gender equality. However, the statistics show that this is not the case, especially in terms of female entrepreneurship. Europe, including Sweden, is lagging behind other regions in the world when it comes to the share of venture capital and private investments received by women. It is clear that there is a significant discrepancy between the number of women running businesses in Europe and the global average. In Europe, only 5.7% of women are business owners, which is far below the global average of 11%. These figures show that we must take immediate action to achieve true gender equality in business and investments.
Diversity in leadership increases profits
Studies show that companies with more women in top positions are 28% more likely to outperform their competitors, and gender-balanced boards have a 25% better chance of success. Diversity leads to stronger decision-making and higher profitability through broader perspectives and innovation.
[Source: Figures retrieved from the European Investment Bank website, 2024-09-25, https://www.eib.org/en/stories/investment-in-women-entrepreneurs.htm]
Add age discrimination to that
Let’s not forget age discrimination, which affects many people over 50. I firmly believe that the impact is especially noticeable for women. Let’s be clear: if we already face more challenges in reaching top positions compared to our male colleagues, it hardly gets easier once we pass 50.
Despite years of work experience, accumulated knowledge, and the fact that the years of caring for young children are behind us, and with studies showing that older people take sick leave less often than younger, many are still overlooked solely because of age. This is happening at the same time as the retirement age is being pushed up, which makes no sense at all.
To achieve real fairness and success, companies must combat both gender and age discrimination.
