Women in banking: Career choice and advancement

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that influenced the career choice and identify the barriers related to the career advancement of female bankers. Quantitative and in-depth interview methods were employed in this study. Close ended questionnaires were administered to female bankers in Metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages and mean rankings. The findings showed that factors such as employment opportunities, hope for career advancement, personal skills, prestige and attractiveness of bank job, remuneration, educational qualification and job suitability influenced female bankers’ choice of a career. Family responsibilities, strict banking promotional policies and employment policies and practice were identified as barriers that impedes female career advancement. The study also discovered that there is no form of gender discrimination in the banking sector in Lagos state. The study concluded that the findings would help in the better understanding of the career development of female bankers in Lagos state, Nigeria. The study recommended that Banks promote the personal well-being of their female employees, introduce and effectively implement family friendly policies, and review the promotion and employment policies.