Result
The proportion of working women in Germany is growing steadily. Ten years ago, 72 per cent of women were in employment, but this figure has now risen to 75 per cent. This makes the female labour force participation rate in Germany one of the highest in Europe. However, when it comes to female managers, the country is only in the bottom third in Europe at around 29 per cent (EU average: 35%).
However, almost three quarters of all German citizens expect a significantly higher rate in the future, with all groups, regardless of age, income or education, in agreement. Only women rate their professional future in relation to management positions slightly below average, while men agree with this statement slightly above average.
Reasons
The optimistic expectations of many citizens with regard to a higher quota of female managers in Germany in the future can be attributed to various factors. One important aspect is the recognisable change in awareness in society. In the course of this change, the importance of gender equality and diversity is increasingly being recognised and a growing number of citizens are actively in favour of measures to promote women in the world of work. This is followed by a public debate about the current (too) low quota of female managers, which is putting pressure on companies. At the same time, however, more and more companies are recognising the opportunities and benefits of having more female managers and are implementing appropriate measures, from mentoring programmes to more flexible working conditions.
Political initiatives and guidelines also support the expectation of an increasing proportion of women in management positions. For example, a mandatory women's quota of 30 per cent has been in place for supervisory boards of listed companies for years.
Forecast
The proportion of women on the boards of the 200 largest companies quadrupled from four to 16 per cent between 2012 and 2022. Around one in four board positions on the DAX executive boards are currently held by women and the proportion of women in management positions in the public sector is 43 per cent.
In the future, investors and companies will increasingly recognise how important a balanced gender ratio - and therefore an increasing number of female managers - is for the success of companies. Currently, more women than men pass their A-levels and the proportion of female students is over 50 per cent. Women also graduate better on average in all degrees.
Despite these facts, there is still a lot to do. Issues of family planning, maternity leave and parental leave for members of the Executive Board, part-time management or job sharing at Executive Board level must be addressed constructively in order to better utilise the existing potential.
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