For the fifth year in a row, securities regulators in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan have released detailed data from their review on women on boards and in executive officer positions.

Over these years, the number of total board seats occupied by women rose to 17% from 11%. Issuers with at least one woman on their boards increased to 73% from 49% and the number of issuers with three or women on their boards almost doubled to 15% from 8%.

Issuers adopt policies and targets

The report also notes that issuers that adopted a policy relating to the representation of women on their board rose to 50% from 15%; issuers that adopted targets for the representation of women on their boards was up 22% from 7% while issuers that adopted targets for the representation of women in executive officer positions barely budged to 3% from 2% five years ago.

The number of women on boards varies by industry. The report indicates that manufacturing, retail and utilities industries had the highest percentage of issuers with one or more women on their boards. The mining, biotechnology and oil & gas industries had the lowest percentage of issuers with one or more women on their boards.

The real estate, retail and financial services industries had the highest percentage of issuers with one or more women in executive officer positions. The mining, oil & gas, and technology industries had the lowest percentage of issuers with one or more women in executive officer positions.