Sydney, March 8 2006. On International Women’s Day, the day set aside to celebrate women’s efforts to achieve gender equality in all walks of life, the Shell Group is launching a global female attraction recruitment drive as part of its commitment to increasing the numbers of women in the workforce. As part of this global recruitment drive, the Shell Group recently surveyed 12,000 students and young professionals in 12 markets (including Australia) around the globe to gain a better understanding of the factors that candidates consider important when making decisions about their prospective careers. The study found that although there are many similarities in what male and female candidates look for in a potential employer – there are differences that employers must appreciate and consider when attracting female candidates. In particular: - 45% of female respondents, as compared to only 33% of males, said that their most important career goal was to achieve balance between their personal life and career
- When it comes to remuneration – the study showed that Australian women consider a potential employer’s ability to provide childcare (17%), parental leave (26%) and paid overtime (50%) as important influencers in their decision making process. This contrasted significantly with male respondents who would primarily consider performance-related bonuses as key influencers in the decision making process.
- Globally, 54% of female respondents think it important that their employer works actively with equality against only 33% of males
- Globally, 55% of women consider it important to work with inspiring colleagues that treat them with respect – against only 45% of men
- On a global scale, Australian women were the most concerned about paid parental leave.
Companies in the Shell Group are committed to providing creative responses to the global energy challenge and believe that their ability to meet that challenge will be enhanced by a diverse workplace where the different talents and skills of their people are recognised and utilised to best effect. This philosophy can not be better demonstrated than in the Australian market, where Shell was recently awarded as one of the Employers of Choice for Women by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA). The company also received a certificate of high commendation in the government, BCA/ACCI 'Work and Family' awards. Kairen Harris, HR General Manager, Shell Australia commented, “Increasing the effectiveness of partnerships between men and women through better awareness of gender differences, different leadership styles and work/career patterns is core to the company’s continued success. Both men and women will be further encouraged to use a variety of flexible work options to support family and personal needs, allowing them to achieve the ultimate goal of work/life balance, which has been shown to be a factor in increasing productivity.” The Shell Group is today launching a web-site which aims to demonstrate the Group’s commitment to tackling some of the most oft-cited barrier to women’s achieving their full potential in their careers. The site highlights the achievements of successful Shell women who have ‘heard the sound of breaking glass’ as they broke through their own glass ceilings – and provides a forum in which graduates and women already on their career path can participate in debate around the issues which most affect them today – and seek advice from their peers and mentors. Kairen added: “Shell has made significant progress in recruiting, developing and progressing women in its business. However, our study here in Australia shows us that there is more to do. The launch of our global recruitment drive on International Women’s Day is symbolic of our wish to continue to promote gender equality throughout our business,  and our new web-site www.shell.com/careers/equality is a practical first step to enabling women to make the most of a potential career with Shell. We hope that the site becomes a resource not just for Shell people, but for men and women seeking the inspiration to achieve their full potential everywhere.”
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