The Global 100 survey conducted by Wilkinson Partners of 100 tax partners found that 78% percent of moving partners in 2017 were male, up from 70% in 2016. The disparity was most notable in the EMEA region, where only 4% of the talent hired was female.
The research looked at the main motivations for partners to move. Overall, career progression and an improvement of company culture were the main reasons for partners to leave their previous positions.
While career progression was one of the main reasons overall, the survey found that men were twice as more likely (61%) to move for career progression than women (30%).
The balance was almost even for those moving for an improved company culture with 55% of men and 50% of women citing this as a reason.
Increase in remuneration was only the sixth most popular reason for partners to move.
The survey reported that the average age of which partners moved was 43, with the youngest partner to move being 33 and the oldest at 54.
Over half of respondents (55%) were not held until the end of their contractual notice period.
Wilkinson Partners managing partner Tom Wilkinson commented: “Gender and diversity have been a significant topic on the agenda of professional services firms over the last few years. Despite this focus, it is disappointing that our findings demonstrate the gender gap when hiring lateral partners has widened in 2017 compared to the results from our 2016 report.”
