The Financial Post reports that International Paper is aiming to have its U.S. payroll more fairly represent the 51% of women in the general population.  At present its workforce has only 23% women, although it does have three women among the five highest-paid executives, one of only four such companies on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

“While [International Paper Chief Executive Officer John] Faraci’s a believer in gender equity, what’s driving him is a skilled-labor shortage and a boomer bubble that means International Paper will have to replace more than 50 percent of its plant operators and mechanics within 10 years.  “It’s a war for talent,” Faraci said. “If we can only compete for half the people that are on the planet, how are we going to get the best? You want to compete for everybody.”