Proportion of women in companies: East and West in comparison

In eastern Germany, the proportion of women in senior management positions in public companies is significantly higher than in western Germany: at least one in four management positions is held by women, with particularly high proportions in Thuringia (26.6%) and Saxony-Anhalt (26.5%). In addition, more than half of the cities with a female share of over 30% in top management positions are located in eastern Germany. These are the findings of this year's edition of a study by Zeppelin University, which focuses on women in top management bodies of public companies. According to Ulf Papenfuß, head of the study, the regularly conducted study is unique in that it is the only study to provide insights into public companies at all federal levels and also takes municipal companies into account. The reasons for the stark differences in the proportion of women in the east and west are manifold – and still controversial: one explanation is that this difference can be explained historically: More women were employed in the GDR than in the former FRG, and these different work cultures are now continuing to have an effect. In addition, the higher proportion of women in the labor market led to the creation of better childcare infrastructures, which can now continue to be used. Regardless of this, the study does not record the proportion of women socialized in East Germany in the management ranks of companies there. It is therefore also possible that women socialized in West Germany are taking advantage of the less competitive labor market there to advance their careers.

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