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.

Globally, 33 percent of the businesses surveyed do not have female top managers.

As for the motivation to take on leading positions, more than 43 percent of female respondents said they wanted to promote business strategy and usher in changes in their companies. More than 46 percent of male respondents attributed their motivation to higher salary.

The survey also found that men are more driven by recognition of ability and the desire to influence others, while women have a stronger belief in the purpose of the business.

"Female leaders seem to be more dedicated to driving their companies toward achieving goals, and appear to be more committed to their jobs," said Xu Hua, CEO of Grant Thornton China.

Additionally, the survey found that women tend to focus more on cooperation, while men focus on assigning tasks.

About 26 percent of female leaders surveyed said they believed that having a positive attitude is essential, while 14 percent of male leaders thought so.

More than 20 percent of the male respondents said they thought the ability to delegate tasks is important, compared with 3.7 percent of women.

"Good communication ability is essential for every business leader. Through effective communication concerning company strategy and goals, leaders can drive their employees to achieve the company’s vision," said Xu.

The annual report provides insights into the views and expectations of more than 10,000 businesses across major economies.