Women now hold about 30 percent of the top positions in Chinese mainland businesses, compared with 25 percent last year, according to the annual International Business Report released on Monday by global accountancy firm Grant Thornton.

The report ranked China ninth among 36 major economies surveyed. Globally, only 24 percent of senior business jobs are held by women.

Of the hundreds of mainland businesses surveyed this year, about 16 percent do not have women in top positions, compared with 25 percent last year.