More than half of the respondents also said they expect the economy to get worse in the year ahead, and a third expect their personal finances to get worse.
But it also shows there is a strong push for Kiwis to advance in the workplace, particularly Pasifika (65 per cent) and Māori (57 per cent) workers. Gen Z (55 per cent) and Millennial (54 per cent) workers were more ambitious than Gen X (38 per cent) and Baby Boomers (27 per cent).
The research also shows there are several barriers Kiwis face.
Most cited “business structure” as a key barrier, followed by “not worth the hassle”, “being focused on other things”, “confidence” and “lack of management support”.
One younger Māori woman commented during the research: “I’m quietly studying but not with my boss, because I know that he is not the type of person that will help me to achieve this. So, I will quietly study on the side without his knowledge.”
ANZ CEO Antonia Watson says organisations need to be more supportive to help employees achieve career success because it benefits both the employer and the employee.
“Our respondents noted that more advancement opportunities and more education and training are what employers could do most to help women succeed,” Watson says.
“Another important factor of women’s success at work is having a role model they can aspire to. In our research report, 15 per cent of men and women told us they can’t see themselves in a senior position. It highlights the importance of us showcasing the incredible achievements being made every day by women and girls across New Zealand. That’s why I am a big believer in the phrase ‘if you can see it, you can be it’.”
Of the 2171 people surveyed, 1.484 identified as female and 682 as male. The ethnic breakdown includes 688 people who identify as Māori, 420 Pasifika, 669 as Asian, and 489 as other.
Further to this, the report included significant quantitative research into the opinions from our female participants.
Based on Gen Z as those born between 1997– 2012; Millennials as those born between 1981 and 1996, Gen X as those born from 1965-1980 and Baby Boomers as those born between 1955 and 1964.
Other key insights from the ANZ Watch Wāhine Win research include:
• Notable progress in the way women perceive their own cultural diversity and the richness it brings to a work environment. Overall, women identified cultural diversity as a strength at work (27 per cent) [in comparison to men at 23 per cent], none more so than Māori (50 per cent) and Pasifika (47 per cent) wāhine who were double the national average. Asian respondents were more likely to see their culture as a weakness at work.
• 36 per cent of women said their jobs satisfied they financial needs, 11% lower than men at 47 per cent. Yet women remain 2 per cent more likely to stay in their current job over the next two years versus men (48 per cent).
• Women were more likely than men to say that “people” are the best thing about their jobs.
• Respondents in smaller companies were more satisfied in their jobs, and professional and administrative workers more than manual or technical collar workers.
• Despite talk of “the great resignation”, just under half (49 per cent) of respondents are generally satisfied and expecting to stay in their job for the next two years.
• Over half of respondents appreciated efforts by employers to recognise and support cultural diversity in the workplace. However, when asked if they felt the efforts towards cultural recognition were genuine, 23 per cent of women said they felt it was tokenistic.
• Almost a fifth of respondents also believe there is more their employer could do to promote cultural diversity, with Pasifika and Asian respondents more likely to hold this view.
• Despite this, a significant number of women reported they couldn’t be themselves at work (13 per cent). Māori women were the most likely to say they can’t bring their authentic selves to work.
• Some women felt the biggest barrier was attitude, as their upbringing had not set them up to aim high – or have a clear direction for their future.
• While 45 per cent of the general public and 49 per cent of NZ European did not consider ethnicity a significant barrier to advancement, that view was less strong among Māori at 39 per cent, Pasifika at 33 per cent and Asians at 31 per cent.
• An alarming statistic was more than one in ten Kiwis (16 per cent) reported experiencing cultural discrimination or racism in their current workplace, with Māori (24 per cent), Pasifika (28 per cent), and Asian (22 per cent) respondents being more likely to have experienced it.
• The research is challenging in parts, but reassuring. Respondents identified workable solutions such as role models closer to home in the form of team leaders, mentors or managers, support for training and financial literacy.
The report findings serve as a reminder that not all women (or men) prioritise advancing in their careers. Māori and Pasifika respondents were more likely to rate “being focused on other things (e.g.family)” higher than other barriers to career advancement.
One older Māori woman told the survey: “They live to work and I’m the opposite. I actually work to live, and I work for my kids. I’ve got kids, and they’re my life, and need every spare minute of my time. I don’t want to sit there, sort of hanging out with them [work colleagues]. I can’t be at this meeting at 12 o’ clock because I have to go pick up my kids from kindy. And I can’t come to your team drinks after work, and that kind of thing. And I don’t know. I feel like they judge.”
Watson says it’s important to recognise that success looks different for every woman and it’s important to support ambition in all areas of life.
