Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter records substantial increase in female participation in senior roles across the financial services sector

July 17, 2025

Social Inclusion and Equality
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  •  The Charter, launched in 2022, now has over 100* signatories, representing over half of workers in the financial and insurance sector in Ireland
  • Women now account for 36.3% of senior management amongst signatory firms, compared to 36.2% when firms signed up

Female participation in senior financial services roles has increased substantially over the last three years, according to updated figures from Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter. Compared to baseline levels when firms first signed up to the initiative, marked increases have been seen at:

  • Board level, where average female representation is 43.4% (30.3% when firms signed up)
  • Senior management (43.4%, compared to 36.2% when firms signed up)
  • CEO level (22.6%, compared to 19.4% when firms signed up)
  • Of firms reporting in 2025, 53% signed up in 2022, 23.5% in 2023 and 23.5% in 2024

The findings are contained in the third annual report on Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter. The report has been compiled by the ESRI in collaboration with Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, Financial Services Ireland (part of Ibec), Insurance Ireland, and Irish Funds. The Charter is an industry initiative, supported by government under the Ireland for Finance Strategy, that seeks to improve female representation at all levels in financial services firms operating in Ireland.

Signatories to the Charter commit to setting targets for increased female representation. In January 2025 there were 100 signatory firms to the Charter, which accounted for over 72,000 employees - representing over half of all employees in the financial services sector.

Female representation has reached 50% of all employees in signatory firms, a marginal increase from the previous year (49.3%). While there has been a marked increase in female participation at senior level, the level of female participation at Junior Management and Technical/Professional roles remained static at 49%. There was a marginal decrease in the female share of Middle Management positions, falling from 47.6% to 47.1% as of January 2025.

The firms report several barriers to equal female representation, including low turnover rates in senior positions, fewer female job applicants, the specificity of key skills and experience required, and childcare costs and availability.

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, said: TD, said: “I welcome the findings of the annual report, which show female representation in financial services is increasing at senior level. The work carried out by the Charter’s signatory firms to date provides great confidence that progress will continue in future. I would encourage firms who have not yet signed up to the Charter to do so to continue to build on the success of this initiative.”

Minister of State for Finance with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Robert Troy TD, said:

“Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter has been a resounding success in promoting female representation in the financial services sector. It has been very encouraging to see the signatory firms continue to promote participation at all levels within their organisations. From an employee perspective, it fosters a sense of pride in the workplace when your employer is seeking to make a positive change in society. By encouraging more female participation, and consequently the level of talent and skills in the financial services workforce, the initiative is also of benefit to Ireland’s attractiveness for foreign direct investment."

Patricia Callan, FSI Director, said:

“The figures in the latest Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter report represent strong progress amongst participating firms in a short space of time. A maximum of three years has passed for firms signing up in 2022, and only one year for firms signing up in 2024, which demonstrates tremendous proactivity amongst members in driving gender balance at these levels.

“We introduced the Charter because we know that it's the right thing to do for business. It is our role to continue pushing for increased female participation at all levels in the financial services sector and wider economy and I think Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter helps keep firms committed and accountable on the issue.”

Dr Helen Russell, research professor at the ESRI and one of the report’s authors, said:

“This year’s report demonstrates the continued progress in growing female participation in the financial services sector in Ireland. While there is still work to be done, the targets set out by signatory firms demonstrate ambition and have the potential to encourage organisations in the wider economy to promote increased female participation in their sectors.

“Both organisational and government policies are needed to address gender inequalities. At the firm level, actions to support internal advancement of women to more senior roles were seen as highly effective, these included strategies such as mentoring, leadership training and succession planning. At the government level addressing gaps in childcare coverage is essential.”