Washington, D.C., ranks as one of the best cities in the U.S. for working women, but the private sector still has work to do to shrink gender inequity or companies will risk losing valuable female talent.

Research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, presented Thursday at a Greater Washington Board of Trade panel discussion, shows D.C. ranks first for access to employment as well as earnings and the number of women in management positions. However, it’s No. 48 for women’s health and well-being.