Women in management: new opportunities sought.

• Author: Marshall, Jeffrey
• Position: HUMAN CAPITAL

With the ever-talked-about dramatic talent shortages on the horizon--due to the aging workforce, low birth rates, low unemployment and other factors--will companies begin to more actively look to fill top management spots by advancing the careers of female middle managers? It's no secret that women in top management positions are still a small minority.

To better understand what drives women, Hudson--a global provider of permanent recruitment, talent management and talent management services--conducted an extensive study of both female and male managers to determine what distinguishes women who aspire to upper management from those who do not; how women's career aspirations compare to men's; and, ultimately, what companies must do to develop promising female talent into top business leaders. Among the findings of a recent Hudson Critical Thinking research study, "New Perspectives on Career Goals & Aspirations:"

* 77 percent of female middle managers aspire to senior-level positions, but fewer than a quarter ever achieve that goal;

* 89 percent of women aged 25-34 aspire to top positions in their companies, but these aspirations decline with age; 58 percent of women aged 45-55 share the same goal;

* More than half of women aged...