Insider Spotlight
Professionals — particularly experienced hires — are now evaluating employers based on workplace culture, gender representation, and whether equality is embedded into corporate strategy rather than simply written into policy.
Why it matters
Representation at the top is becoming a recruiting differentiator. According to the Grant Thornton Women in Business 2026 report, 97.7 percent of Philippine businesses say they personally consider gender equality initiatives within a company, while 71.6 percent identify it as a priority.
Nearly a quarter of businesses report that candidates have asked about the gender balance of their senior management team or requested proof of programs that improve gender diversity during recruitment.
By the numbers
According to the report, 40.9 percent of businesses say candidates are now asking about gender balance in leadership — up by 10.2 percentage points from last year, the biggest increase among external influences on hiring.
The findings signal that applicants are conducting their own due diligence, looking for tangible signs that advancement opportunities are equitable.
From the company
The insights were shared in a company release tied to the Grant Thornton Women in Business 2026 report, which examined leadership diversity trends across the Philippines.
"We’re seeing candidates focus more on culture aside from numbers,” says Abe Pelayo, People and Culture group director of P&A Grant Thornton.
“They want to know if the workplace is fair, if people are treated consistently, and if opportunities are genuinely open to everyone. For many of them, an unbiased and supportive environment matters just as much as compensation."
Within the firm, women represent 70.4 percent of junior-level staff but only 31 percent of partners, highlighting the persistent gap between workforce participation and leadership representation.
The big picture
Across Philippine businesses, women now hold 44.5 percent of senior management roles, up 1.5 percentage points year over year — a sign of gradual progress.
“Leadership diversity directly impacts business resilience and decision-making,” says Romualdo V. Murcia III, chairman and managing partner of P&A Grant Thornton.
“In today’s competitive talent environment, organisations that visibly embed gender equality into their strategy are better positioned to attract and retain high-performing leaders. Commitment must translate into measurable outcomes.”
The takeaway
As Women’s Month highlights progress and remaining gaps, companies that visibly champion inclusive leadership may gain an edge in the intensifying battle for talent. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
