Simon Howard tells the BBC how women's position in the workforce has turned around over the last generation

Rather than barriers to career advancement, women now face an easier ride than men into management as the 'glass ceiling' that women used to face dissolves, says Simon Howard, chairman of Park Human Resources.

The findings are the result of surveys presented to delegates at the Institute of Personnel and Development (IPD) conference at Harrogate.

One IPD survey shows that now 49% of personnel directors are women compared to 26% four years ago.

Generational change

"Twenty years ago, many more men than women were getting on the bottom step of that graduate ladder whereas today many more women than men are on it."

Mr Howard said the latest government job figures back up the IPD findings showing women enjoy a higher rate of employment while male graduates are twice as likely to be unemployed.

Added to the greater employability of women is the fact that the influx of women to the workforce over the last two or three decades now sees experienced women progressing through management ranks.

"Women are not only more likely to get a job than men but there are more of them" in the workforce, he said.

However, Mr Howard said the improved conditions for women were still missing at the top director and executive levels.

Only one of the top 100 UK companies has a female chief executive.

Pay disparity

Another IPD survey shows that pay for female senior managers is just 2.5% below that of males.

However, this is set against official figures last week that showed that across the whole workforce, women's pay was only 80% of men's and that the gap has widened recently.