In this follow-up to our 2017 study, we find that more women are working in the alternatives space than two years ago, specifically at private equity, venture capital, and hedge fund firms. Globally, the proportion of alternative assets employees that are female has grown to 19.7% from 18.8% in 2017.

Although this represents real gains, how much has gender parity in alternatives really progressed in the past two years? Our new study reveals that at Managing Director level and above there remains a significant gender imbalance. What is holding women back in the alternatives space and, more importantly, how is the industry working to address this?

Key findings of the report include:

• Venture capital is the alternative asset class with the largest proportion of female employees, at 21.1%
• At 20.4%, North America leads for female representation in alternatives
• Women account for just 11.9% of senior roles in alternatives

Our new Women in Alternative Assets report aims to provide transparency to the industry and help share the conversation on this important topic. Using our database of over 200,000 industry professionals, the report highlights the trends in the workforces of active fund managers and investors across private equity, venture capital, private debt, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources.

We are sincerely grateful to the industry professionals that have shared their experiences of gender equality in this report: Aisling Keane at State Street, Jim Seymour of the EMPEA Gender Parity Acceleration Working Group, Lizzy Buss at InfraHedge, and Elizabeth Frumson at Laven Partners.

Download the report below, and discover more information and content related to Women in Alternative Assets here.