EU sees slow but steady rise in women managers—yet gaps persist by country and age

Women held just over a third of managerial roles across the EU in 2024, according to the latest figures. The share has risen steadily over the past decade, reaching 35.2% compared to 31.8% in 2014. However, significant gaps remain between countries and age groups.

Sweden led the EU with 44.4% of managerial positions filled by women in 2024. Latvia and Poland followed closely, with shares of 43.4% and 41.8% respectively. At the other end of the scale, Cyprus, Croatia, and Italy had the lowest representation, with women occupying only 25.3%, 27.6%, and 27.9% of such roles.

Younger managers showed higher gender balance, with women making up 39.0% of those aged 15-39. But the proportion dropped with age: 34.4% for managers aged 40-64 and just 26.5% for those 65 and older.

Germany's figures stood out in some areas. Women held 33% of board chairs in large companies—above the EU average of 27%. Yet, only 18% of supervisory board seats were occupied by women, far below the EU's 40%. In government, 28% of ministry heads were women, compared to 37% across the EU. While board representation improved slightly from 2023, supervisory boards lagged behind.

The data highlights gradual progress in gender balance among EU managers, though disparities persist by country and age. Sweden, Latvia, and Poland show the highest female representation, while Germany's mixed results reflect both strengths in executive roles and ongoing gaps in oversight positions.