EFFECT OF WORKFORCE GENDER DIVERSITY ON EMPLOYEE PERCEPTION OF COMMERCIAL BANKS’ PERFORMANCE IN ABUJA METROPOLIS

The work environment is becoming more complex due to globalization and competition which as a result has necessitated the need for a workforce that is made up of diverse people with varying gender, age, ethnic, education and religious backgrounds to maximize competitive advantage. Therefore, this study examined the effect of workforce gender diversity on employee perception of banks’ performance in Abuja Metropolis. Specifically, the study centered on diversity practiced in terms of gender. The survey research design method was adopted for this study. The population of study was 1,678 employees of commercial banks in Abuja Metropolis, while 546 employees were sampled using purposive sampling technique. The instrument used to gather relevant data for the study was questionnaire, from which data were collected and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Percentages and frequencies tables were used for the descriptive aspects. To test the hypotheses, Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient Analysis was adopted; Regression Model and ANOVA were adopted to examine the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable. The findings showed that workforce gender diversity has significant relationship with employee perception of commercial banks’ performance in Abuja Metropolis. The study recommended that banks management should continue to uphold its diversity policies and practices in order to maintain competitive advantage.