Men continue to outnumber women four to one in Canadian capital markets jobs at levels above support staff, according to a report released today.

The report, prepared for Women in Capital Markets (WCM), a non-profit association established for the advancement of women in the Canadian investment industry, measures the representation of women in the Canadian capital markets industry.

The report finds that since 2000, women’s representation in line positions increased a mere one percentage point.

WCM says this is a clear indication that the industry continues to experience challenges in recruiting, advancing, and retaining women.

Across levels, women’s proportional representation increased at professional levels, but remained virtually unchanged at more senior officer levels.

The study updates the quantitative research of the first two studies conducted in 2000 and 2002.

“Leaders in the financial community now recognize the challenges women face in building their careers in the capital markets. However, they are still struggling with how to address the issue,” says Jacqueline Szeto, president, Women in Capital Markets. “Women in Capital Markets is committed to collecting and sharing ideas and best practices, such as those included for the first time in this year’s benchmarking report.”

Overall, in 2005, there were 5,729 women out of a total of 14,647 positions in the Canadian Capital Markets industry, down from 6,002 in 2002. Today there are more women on the investment dealers side than in 2002, but fewer women on the retail private client side.

However, women continued to predominate in staff positions, and the proportion of women in line roles remained virtually unchanged at 18%.

Women’s representation at the professional level increased from 20% in 2000 and 2002 to 23% in 2005, despite an overall population drop.

In the investment dealer business, women’s representation increased from 23% in 2002 to 26% in 2005.

In 2005, in the retail private client side of the business, women held 12% of managing director and above positions, up from 8% in 2002.

The 2005 report is the third in an ongoing collaboration between Women in Capital Markets and Catalyst. Catalyst is the leading research and advisory organization working to advance women in business, with offices in New York, San Jose, and Toronto.