Women are disadvantaged from the moment they enter the workforce and the trend continues as they climb the corporate ladder, an equal opportunity group says.

The Equal Opportunity of Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) on Wednesday released a report by Macquarie University, highlighting the hurdles working women continue to face.

It shows women remain dramatically under represented in senior leadership roles.

For every woman serving as a board director in Australia, there are about 12 men in board director positions.

The report also says women at the executive manager level are either funnelled into support roles or fare badly in the wage stakes compared to their male counterparts.

"Sadly, regardless of which way you look at the data, women are still disadvantaged and their skills are being underutilised," EOWA acting director Mairi Steele said.