The report titled "The Future is Female," which was commissioned by AIB, predicts that by 2030, women will control 45 per cent of the assets under management. Compared to the current percentage of women holding assets under management, this represents a significant increase. The study emphasizes the value of gender diversity in the financial industry and how it can result in more effective performance and better decision-making.
Ireland is seeing a surge in female entrepreneurship, with €234 million in funding for tech startups has been secured by female founders in 2022.
The recent study also discovered that one-third of businesses worldwide are currently being founded by a new generation of Gen Z and millennial business women. In the meantime, female representation on ISEQ-listed companies has increased by 21 per cent over the last five years, and women's representation on other listed boards has surpassed the 25 per cent target for 2023 by 28 per cent.
AIB and The Future Laboratory collaborated to create a paper examining Irish female finance trends. The study revealed over the last year, a one-point increase in labor force participation and female participation to 65.8 per cent which results in around 52,000 individuals. It continued stating that female participation also witnessed a surge of 61 per cent from 56 per cent after the pandemic.
The report by AIB further reveals that while women are generally risk-averse, they prioritize Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) in their investment portfolios. 52 per cent of women prefer businesses with positive social or environmental impacts. The report also highlights a shift towards "agile leadership" to enable female career advancements. Miriam Rayman of The Future Laboratory highlights the momentum and progress being led by women in Ireland.
