In 2023, a total of 3.7 million women held leadership positions in the European Union, a significant increase compared to 3.1 million in 2014, according to the EU Labour Force Survey.
Despite these advancements, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles. While they make up 46.4% of the total workforce in the EU, only 34.8% of executives are women. In 2014, the percentage was even lower: 31.8% of leadership roles were occupied by women, while 45.8% of workers were women.
Countries with the Highest and Lowest Female Representation in Leadership
Among EU countries, Sweden (43.7%), Latvia (42.9%), and Poland (42.3%) had the highest proportion of women in leadership positions. In contrast, Luxembourg (22.2%), Croatia (23.8%), and Czechia (27.4%) had the lowest female representation in leadership.
Since 2014, 20 countries have seen an increase in female representation in leadership roles, with the following countries showing the most significant growth:
- Cyprus (+10.5 percentage points).
- Malta (+8.3 percentage points).
- Sweden (+6.5 percentage points).
On the other hand, three countries have seen a decrease in female representation in leadership:
- Hungary and Slovenia (-2.6 percentage points).
- Lithuania (-1.7 percentage points).
A Gradual Progress, but Challenges Remain
Although the trend is positive, the path to gender equality in business leadership still faces challenges. The increase in female representation in leadership positions suggests progress in the EU labor market, but the figures show that much work remains to be done to achieve true equity in decision-making roles.
source: EUROSTAT