Global attitudes towards women in the workplace

Washington, DC, March 8, 2022 – Roughly one in five people in the United States and across seven other countries are either actively looking for a new job or started a new job in the past three months, according to an Ipsos survey conducted in advance of International Women’s Day.

In the US, men are 7-points more likely to be job seeking (22% of men vs. 15% of women). Female job hunters in the US are most motivated by the prospect of a higher salary at their next job (50%), but also cite burnout (31%), better benefits (28%) and greater flexibility, like working from home (26%) as top reasons why they are looking for something new.

Across the eight countries surveyed, job hunters are most likely to say a higher salary (40%), better benefits (23%) and greater flexibility (23%) are the top three reasons why they are looking for something new.

A majority across all eight countries surveyed believe that the gender pay gap is real (68%), but more than half (55%) also believe that women have the same opportunities for advancement as men. Additionally, 49% believe that women make less money because they choose to work in less highly paid fields.

Across countries, opinion is wide-ranging on these questions. For example, close to eight in ten in Japan and France in agreement that the gender pay gap is real, compared to just 49% in Turkey and 55% in Nigeria. In the United States, 69% believe that the gender pay gap is real, with 73% of American women in agreement.

For full results, please see the attached annotated questionnaire

About the Study

These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between February 16-26, 2022. For this study, a starting sample of 8,000 adults age 18+ from Australia, France, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Turkey, and the United States were interviewed online. The sample includes 1,000 interviews per country. Respondents from Australia, Nigeria, and the U.S. were interviewed in English; respondents in France were intviewed in French; respondents in Japan were interviewed in Japanese; respondents in Mexico were interviewed in Spanish; respondents in Poland were interviewed in Polish; and respondents in Turkey were interviewed in Turkish.

The “8-country average” reflects the average result for all the countries where the survey was conducted. It has not been adjusted to the population size of each country and is not intended to suggest a total result.

The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel, partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. Posthoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, and region.

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 1.3 percentage points for all respondents and 3.8 percentage points for each country’s respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=8,000, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-2.8 percentage points).

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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