As in 2009, women represented 43% of the workforce in 2010. The ratio varies among individual business sectors, functions and regions. In the Pharmaceuticals business sector, 47% of all employees are female, in Chemicals 33%, and in Group functions 21%. In North America, 47% of all employees are female, in Europe 46%, in Latin America 43%, and in Asia 33%. Women make up 55% of the workforce in research and development, which is the highest percentage, followed by 50% in administration. The lowest percentages of women are in production (32%) and the infrastructure departments (28%). Merck has set itself the goal of increasing the percentage of female employees wherever they are underrepresented.
