RESEARCH by the Institute of Management shows that women have moved into management in unprecedented numbers this decade. But many say they still experience discrimination.

A quarter of managers are now women -- an increase from only nine per cent at the beginning of the 1990s -- and one in 10 have reached the boardroom.

According to the figures, 41 per cent of female executives who are married or living with a partner bring home the main salary and a further 33 per cent are joint breadwinners.

However, a third believe their organisation still discriminates against women managers in terms of pay policy and 47 per cent think women still suffer discrimination when the company makes decisions affecting promotion. The "old boys' network", once seen as a hindrance to women, is said to be in decline.