Comparison of gender diversity in management positions in the Czech Republic and Germany in relation to the adoption of quotas

Abstract

In 2022, the European Parliament approved rules for gender equality in corporate leadership. As part of this measure, a quota was established, stating that companies with more than 250 employees must fill at least 40% of supervisory board positions or 33% of all management board positions with individuals of the underrepresented gender, which is typically women, by the end of June 2026. This measure aims to increase the number of women in leadership positions, as they are still underrepresented in these roles globally. However, there are voices suggesting that quotas are not a sufficient factor in addressing this issue. The goal of this study is to compare the trend in the number of women in leadership positions in the Czech Republic and Germany between 2015 and 2022 and to identify whether there is a significant difference between countries that have adopted gender quotas and those that have not yet done so. In 2015, Germany adopted a gender quota, which required that 30% of seats in supervisory boards of large organizations be filled by women from 2016 onwards. The Czech republic has not yet implemented a gender quota. The study uses current data from Eurostat.