In collaboration with Deloitte, Centre researchers examine the representation of women in leadership roles within Germany's digital public administration. They assess the current status and propose opportunities for improvement.
The digital transformation of public administration has become increasingly important and has developed into a thriving career field in recent years. However, it is an area where women have traditionally been underrepresented compared to other professions. Given the ambitious goals of achieving gender equality in leadership roles by 2025, there is a pressing question of how to ensure more women are involved in digital administration.
This study explores the presence of women in leadership positions within digital public administration at both national and state levels. It provides insights into the current situation and shares the experiences of female leaders in this field. The aim is to find effective strategies and actions to increase the number of women in public administration roles.
The findings highlight that women are still significantly underrepresented in leadership positions, especially in roles related to digitalisation, with a noticeable gap at the state level that requires urgent attention. Effective measures to promote equality include tailored recruitment processes, employee development, increased flexibility, and particularly the implementation of mandatory quotas.
The insights from this study are intended to guide efforts to promote gender equality. These results are crucial not only for the ongoing discussion about gender equality but also for making significant progress towards integrating and empowering women in digital public administration.
Study authors:
- Gerhard Hammerschmid, Dinah Rabe, Camila Weinmann (Hertie School Centre for Digital Governance)
- Johanna Klein, Alina Köchling, Antje Matten, Felix Dinnessen (Deloitte Consulting)