Women now hold almost a third of management roles in companies in Asia, with China particularly standing out due to its booming economic development, according to a recent report by specialist recruitment group Hays.

The survey of more than 3,000 employers across Japan, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, found women held 31 percent of management roles in Asia, compared to 29 percent reported last year.

The Chinese mainland and Malaysia fared well, with the highest percent of management roles held by women in the region, both at 35 percent. China has increased the number by 3 percent, while the figure in Malaysia fell by 2 percent from last year.

The report also noted that Hong Kong ranked third with 33 percent of women in managerial positions with a 5 percent rise from last year, which reported the largest increase in the region. Singapore followed with 31 percent, and Japan fared worst with only 22 percent of management positions filled by women.

Christine Wright, Managing Director of Hays in Asia, said: "It's worth noticing that China has led Asia for the number of management roles held by women consistently in the past five years. This reflects both the rapid pace of economic growth and the skills shortages in China's fast-growing service industries. Employers who are firmly focused on finding the right talent to support their business growth are more likely to offer management opportunities to female candidates based on their abilities."

According to Hays, employers should encourage female employees' career aspirations and implement gender diversity policies.

Wright said employers should recognize the benefits of a gender diverse workforce and maintain clear development plans to keep and promote their top female talent.

She said: "From a talent management perspective, working in more diverse teams can broaden employees experience, expose them to international markets and management practices, facilitate innovation and develop a culture that is based on merit."

She added that addressing gender equality needs to be more than just a box-ticking exercise.

In a separate survey conducted by global accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, more than half of 3,934 women with recent experiences of the jobs market from 70 countries said they will value the active diversity progress when deciding whether or not to accept a job offer.

The report found that it was not enough to simply include diversity as part of the corporate brand; and enterprises should strive to implement diversity polices and help female talents to overcome difficulties they confronted.

PwC Global Diversity Leader Sharmila Karve, said: "In today's highly competitive job market, it is incumbent on every organization to make sure they are meeting the needs of the modern workforce, in particular the woman of today who is truly a trailblazer. Women today are looking for much more from their careers than previous generations. Organizations need to keep up if they are to secure the talent they need to grow their business."

The report also noted that 78 percent of large organizations in the globe were actively seeking to recruit more women, especially for more experienced and senior positions. And it said the competition for female talents would rise to a whole new level in the future.

ouyangshijia@chinadaily.com.cn