Female professionals are landing senior leadership roles almost a year earlier than expected at the age of 33 years old while the average ages for buying their first car and home are between 25 and 30 years old respectively.
This is according to 1st for Women’s nationwide survey comprising 1 000 women which paints a picture of a generation determined to succeed on their own terms.
Respondents said they are securing their dream job three years after perceived societal expectations, by achieving this major milestone at just 31 years and 9 months on average, with 55% landing their dream job before the age of 35.
More than half of women (52%) are also prioritising career fulfilment over traditional milestones like marriage and having children with financial security being a key driver (70%), outranking starting a family (48%) and travel (30%) as the top priority.
The survey also shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by many SA women in achieving their career goals. Almost three quarters (73%) agree the ‘glass ceiling’ still exists, 72% believe men are given more respect than their female counterparts in the workplace, a further two thirds (69%) agree men are given more opportunities than women, and 42% noted family and caregiving responsibilities as a barrier to achieving their career aspirations.
Despite these barriers in the workplace, more than half (56%) feel fulfilled at their current life stage in general with markers of success including ‘feeling happy and content’ (96%), ‘continuous learning’ (94%), ‘achieving financial independence’ (92%), and ‘being able to afford the lifestyle they want’ (82%).
