A recent study has revealed a decline in the number of women serving as CEOs in Germany's top companies, posing a setback to the government's aspirations for greater gender equality.

According to the DIW economic institute's study, female CEOs at Germany's 200 largest firms by revenue decreased to nine in late 2023, down from 10 in 2022 and 14 in 2021.

Despite this decline in top executive positions, the study highlighted an increase in female representation on management boards, reaching 17.5% in 2023 compared to 15.6% in 2022. However, the overall picture remains concerning, with 44% of surveyed firms having no women on their management boards, 40% having only a single woman, and a mere 16% having two or more.

"The CEO role is unfortunately still a bastion for men," remarked Virginia Sondergeld, one of the authors of the report. The study, conducted by DIW, an influential economic research institute in Germany, has been monitoring these trends since 2006.

Despite Germany's commitment to gender equality goals, highlighted in the formation of a new coalition government in 2021, challenges persist, with the gender pay gap remaining one of the highest in Europe. The findings underscore the ongoing struggle to achieve gender parity at the highest levels of corporate leadership in the country. Photo by damien hensens, Wikimedia commons.