JP Morgan’s Global State of Gender Balance in 2025: Signs of Progress Plateauing research paints a complex picture of global gender equality, revealing both strides made and significant hurdles remaining. While progress is evident in some areas, the overarching message is one of slow, uneven advancement.

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2024 Global Gender Gap Index highlights the sluggish pace of change. With the global gender gap remaining at 68.5%, it’s projected that full parity is still 134 years away. However, it’s worth noting that 97% of economies analyzed have closed more than 60% of their gap, a notable improvement from 2006.  

In the United States, the female labor force participation rate (LFPR) has reached a historic high, surpassing pre-pandemic levels at 77%. Globally, the prime-age female LFPR has also seen growth, reaching 65.7%. This surge is notably concentrated in non-remote occupations, reflecting the tight labor market conditions.

However, the persistent burden of unpaid family care, particularly childcare, continues to hinder women’s participation. The expiration of COVID-19 stimulus childcare funding in the US led to a 1.4%-point drop in LFPR for women with young children, underscoring the critical role of support systems.

Leadership challenges

The gender pay gap remains a significant concern, with the US seeing an increase to 17.3%. In Europe, while stable at 12.7%, the gap still reflects the underrepresentation of women in high-paying fields. As noted in the research: “In 2024, for every $1 that men in the US make, women in the US earn $0.83, regardless of occupation, experience, education, or other compensable factors – i.e., when data are uncontrolled, according to Payscale.” This uncontrolled data number shows a larger gap than many controlled studies.  

While female representation on US corporate boards has reached a record 34% in the S&P 500, the path to parity is plateauing. “The 50/50 Women on Boards organization projects that, at the current pace, gender parity on US corporate boards will not be achieved until 2044,” said the research. Furthermore, C-suite representation remains stubbornly low, with women holding less than 20% of CEO, COO, and CFO roles in the S&P 500.

“Within the  S&P100, the percentage of women in the C-suite has declined from 12.2% in 2022 to 11.8% at the end of 2023. For women of color, they hold just 7% of C-suite roles, according to McKinsey.”  

Entrepreneurship and homeownership

Despite generating lower revenues than male-owned firms, female-owned businesses are a growing force. Notably, single women are outpacing single men in homeownership, comprising 20% of all homebuyers. However, self-employed female entrepreneurs face financial challenges, irrespective of their motivations.

Political empowerment

The Political Empowerment subindex of the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index registers the largest gap, with only 22.9% of parity achieved. As stated in the research: “After a record-breaking year with 77 elections, the Political Empowerment subindex registers the largest gender gap, with only 22.9% of the gap closed, according to the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index.”

OMFIF’s 2024 Gender Balance Index  further highlights missed opportunities, with only nine out of 63 institutions appointing women to top positions during leadership transitions.

Pace too slow

JP Morgan’s research underscores the need for continued, concerted efforts to close the gender gap. While progress is being made, the pace is far too slow. To accelerate change and address these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, involving:

• Policy changes: Governments and organizations must implement policies that promote gender equality, such as pay transparency, parental leave, and affordable childcare.
• Cultural shifts: Increasing female representation in leadership positions, challenging traditional gender roles and fostering inclusive workplace cultures are crucial.
• Investment in women: Providing women with access to education, training, and financial resources is essential for economic empowerment.  

The JP Morgan research serves as a timely reminder that despite some progress, gender equity remains an unfinished agenda. The persistent systemic barriers must be dismantled to achieve true gender parity. Continued efforts from governments, businesses, and individuals are essential to creating a more equitable future for all.