Women on the rise: More female bosses in German city companies!

Women on the rise: More female bosses in German city companies!

In Germany, equality for women in leadership positions in municipal companies is becoming increasingly visible. A recent study by the Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen showed that the proportion of women in the executive suites of city companies was 23.0% in April 2023 - an increase of 0.9 percentage points compared to the previous year and 3.5 points in a five-year comparison. Nevertheless, this value remains below the political goal of parity and the 24.7% of DAX 40 companies. The South German reports that of a total of 2,126 positions on the board, management or management, only 488 are held by women.

The study examined 1,456 municipal companies in 69 cities and also took a close look at the newly filled top positions. In recent years, 30.7% of these positions have been filled by women, an increase of 2.8 percentage points compared to the previous year. Particularly noteworthy is Hanover, which is at the top with a proportion of women of 56.3%, followed by Weimar (55.6%) and Greifswald (53.8%). While the proportion of women in East Germany is 24.7%, West German cities only have 19.1%.

Challenges on the way to equality

However, despite this progress, there remain significant barriers preventing women in leadership positions from receiving equal recognition. In addition to gender stereotypes, which often lead to women being perceived as less assertive, there is also the famous “glass ceiling” that prevents an incredible number of women from advancing. Women often take on the majority of the care work, which makes it very difficult to combine work and family.

Another aspect is the double standards that are applied to women; While men have the freedom to make mistakes, women are often judged more critically about any inadequacy. The study also developed concrete solutions to overcome these hurdles. The Association of Cities and Municipalities mentions the introduction of a public governance code to promote the proportion of women as one approach. This also includes binding equality goals and gender-neutral selection processes to ensure fair opportunities.

The way forward

Additional measures, such as family-friendly working time models and mentoring programs, are intended to help create a modern and inclusive corporate culture. Companies are required to report annually on the implementation of equality goals and to make their progress in this area transparent. These measures are not only necessary to achieve gender equality, but they also promote the economic and social development of our cities.

The study clearly shows that diversity in leadership teams is not just a question of equity; it also contributes to better decisions and innovative solutions. The current developments in municipal companies are a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go before full equality.