For the past two years, the Florida Census of Women Corporate Directors report has provided a look at the percentage of women serving on boards among Florida companies on the Russell 3000 Index. Nationally, Florida is 4 percentage points below the R3000 average and in second-to-last place among the 25 states in female representation on boards at more than 20 companies on the R3000, the research has found.

In a new report released this month, a University of Tampa research team found women filled less than a quarter of Florida’s board seats last year. The board gender diversity gap in Florida widened to 4 percentage points in 2023, up from a 3.5 percentage point gap in 2022. Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, Florida companies added 40 women and 74 men to their boardrooms. This equates to 35% of new board appointments going to women and 65% going to men, the study said.

“While adding 40 women to Florida boards in the past year is a good start, it is not enough to move Florida up more than one position (from last to 2nd to last place) in the state rankings. Florida is below average in all industry sectors except one and trails the national average for company size, especially the smallest companies,” wrote the study’s authors Ashley Salaiz, Rebecca White and Leon Faifman.

The report was produced in partnership with the Knight Foundation, the International Women’s Forums in Florida, Women’s Executive Leadership Florida, the Florida Chapters of Women Corporate Directors and 50/50 Women on Boards.

» Read the 2023 report

» Read the 2022 report