Women in health care are still underrepresented in the C-suite

Two-thirds of all entry-level employees in health care are women, according to a new McKinsey and LeanIn.org report of 43 companies, including pharma and medical device manufacturers. That figure represents a three percentage point increase since last year, and is higher than in non-health-care sectors, where 49% of entry-level workers, on average, are women. The numbers get significantly smaller among leadership positions: 59% of managers in health care fields are women, but only 30% of those in the C-suite are women, for example. And the numbers among women of color are bleaker: Only 20% of entry-level positions are occupied by this demographic, dropping to 5% in C-suite positions. Despite these obstacles to advancement, 75% of women in health care report being happy with their careers — compared to 69% of men — a figure that increases with leadership ranks.