Why are fewer women than men interested in promotions in the US?

The 2025 Women in the Workplace Report by Lean In and McKinsey & Company reveals a historic “ambition gap,” with women in the US now less interested in promotions than men. Driven by limited sponsorship, uneven advancement, and shrinking workplace support, women are recalibrating ambition in response to systemic barriers, not a lack of drive.

Why are fewer women than men interested in promotions in the US?
The 2025 Women in the Workplace Report by Lean In and McKinsey & Company reveals a historic “ambition gap,” with women in the US now less interested in promotions than men. Driven by limited sponsorship, uneven advancement, and shrinking workplace support, women are recalibrating ambition in response to systemic barriers, not a lack of drive.