Top-tier positions in various sectors experienced a modest uptick in East German representation, except in the economy.
In a recent study conducted by scientists from the universities of Leipzig, Jena, and the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, and initiated by the Federal Government's Commissioner for East Germany, it was found that East Germans remain underrepresented in leadership positions, particularly in the economic sector of Germany.
The study, aired on our website AKTUELL at 19:30 Uhr on September 19, 2025, examined around 3,000 top positions in twelve sectors. The results showed that while the share of Eastern Germans in leadership positions in the federal administration has increased from 13.9% to 15.5%, the proportion of East German leaders has decreased in both the economy and culture of Germany. In the economy, the proportion of East German leaders has decreased from 5.1% to 4.0%, and in culture, it has decreased from 9.3% to 6.8%.
State Minister Kaiser emphasized that actively addressing the issue leads to progress in increasing the share of Eastern Germans in leadership positions in the federal administration of Germany. However, Elisabeth Kaiser, the Federal Government's Commissioner for the East of Germany, expressed mixed feelings about the Elite Monitor, stating that there is still a lot to do to address the underrepresentation of East Germans in leadership positions in Germany.
Experts attribute the lack of East German leaders to a lack of networks. Career consultant Constanze Buchheim noted that relevant positions are often filled through networks or headhunters, and Eastern Germans often lack these networks in Germany.
Leading headhunters filling key positions in digital and transformation-sensitive areas in Germany include firms like HAGER Executive Search, LHH Talent Acquisition, Oxford Global Resources, and various specialized recruiters active in digital transformation consulting. However, available sources do not provide specific data on the proportion of candidates from former East Germany in their candidate lists.
In politics, the study found that 21.4% of leaders are from East Germany, a slight increase from previous years but still underrepresented compared to the overall population of Germany. Constanze Buchheim also observed that Eastern Germans were often told not to seek the spotlight in their upbringing, which can be a disadvantage when vying for top positions in Germany.
The copyright for the video of the study belongs to the GERMAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION. The study found that there is a higher number of East German leaders in administration, partly due to a concept of the federal government for the federal administration of Germany. Despite the underrepresentation in other sectors, it is worth noting that in the 100 largest German companies, there are no East German leaders.
The Elite Monitor, a long-term study initiated by the Federal Government's Commissioner for East Germany, showed that the proportion of East Germans in leadership positions has increased slightly from 10.9% in 2018 to 12.1% in 2024. The study can be found on our website AKTUELL.
