Leadership positions in Germany: Why the East remains underrepresented
Even more than 30 years after German reunification, there is a clear imbalance in the country's executive suites. While people from East Germany make up about 20 percent of the population, they remain heavily underrepresented in top management positions in companies, in academia, and in politics. Experts are currently investigating intensively why this advancement is still more difficult for East Germans today than it is for West Germans.
A significant reason for this development lies in the economic structure. After the reunification, many large companies in the East were closed or privatized, causing established economic networks to be lost. Since most large corporations have their headquarters in the West, the most important career decisions are also made there. Many East German professionals therefore had to move to the West to advance their careers, which led to a brain drain from the new federal states.
Furthermore, social networks play a decisive role in filling leadership positions. Many executives recruit their successors from existing circles of acquaintances or through recommendations. Since many decision-makers in large corporations are shaped by West German backgrounds, East German applicants often lack the necessary contacts or visibility within these networks. This leads to a so-called "glass ceiling" that makes advancement to the highest levels more difficult.
Politics and various business associations are now increasingly discussing measures to close this gap. There are calls to pay greater attention to diversity when filling leadership positions and to view the East German perspective as an enrichment for companies. Some federal states have already launched initiatives to promote young talent more specifically and to increase the economic attractiveness of the regions.
In summary, the underrepresentation of East Germans in top positions is a complex problem that is deeply rooted in the history and structures of the German economy. True parity will take time and requires both a rethink in personnel decisions and a greater economic strengthening of East German locations. The debate remains an important issue for social cohesion in Germany.