Women as Worried as Men About Skills, Abilities

Talent Trepidation: Women in emerging markets, particularly Brazil, China, India and South Africa, express greater confidence than do men about their ability to prosper in the world’s changing economy. But those are the exceptions. On the whole, less than half of career women believe they possess the capabilities they will need to compete by the turn of the decade, according to a global study published by Accenture. The 17-country survey gathered feedback from about 4,000 men and women.

Participants were asked to judge their “skills readiness” in six categories: agility, social responsibility, global skills, technology, inclusion and diversity, and building business relationships. Three-quarters of women, and nearly as many men (73 percent), said they are equipped to use technology, while 83 percent of women expressed a willingness to learn to use newer technologies, including blogs, wikis and social networks, “as a means of achieving future success.”

What’s holding women back? The most commonly cited reasons for career stagnation were gender (23 percent), family obligations (22 percent) and an unwillingness to relocate (18 percent). Also, while nearly 30 percent of respondents say men are more effective at networking, only 13 percent give women professionals the same credit.

The issue of preparedness isn’t confined to women, however. About 57 percent of women feel unprepared, compared with 53 percent of men. The study, “One Step Ahead of 2011: A New Horizon for Working Women,” was published in March as part of Accenture’s celebration of International Women’s Day.