East Germans Taking Seats of Leadership Positions
In a concerning development, East Germans are underrepresented in leadership positions across various sectors, according to recent data. The share of Eastern Germans in politics increased slightly, with 21.4% of the population holding political positions in 2024, up from 19.9% in 2018. However, this progress does not extend to top leadership roles, as the proportion of Eastern Germans in federal agencies' leadership positions rose only marginally, from 13.9% in 2022 to 15.5%. A more alarming trend is observed in upper federal agencies, where the share of native Eastern Germans has decreased from 12.6% to an unknown current value. This decrease is also observed outside Berlin, suggesting a nationwide issue. The underrepresentation of East Germans in leadership positions can strengthen the feeling of being second-class citizens, according to Astrid Lorenz, a researcher. This sentiment is further reinforced in the economy, where the share of East Germans in leadership roles decreased from 5.1% to 4.0%. The current proportion of top management positions in the 100 largest German companies held by East Germans is 0.0 percent, a figure that remains unchanged since 2018. The share of native Eastern Germans in top management positions in these companies also remains at 0.0%. The situation improves slightly in the culture sector, where the share of Eastern Germans in leadership roles decreased from 9.3% to 6.8%. However, when excluding Berlin, the share drops significantly, from 4.5% to 1.9%. Two-thirds of leadership positions have been newly filled since 2018, and the federal government's efforts towards representation seem to be more effective at the middle management level than at the top leadership level. The current state of representation of native Eastern Germans in top leadership positions is lower compared to the middle management level. Despite the efforts made, it appears that more needs to be done to address this imbalance and ensure equal opportunities for all Germans.
