Too Few Women in Top Posts

摘要

In 2000 women accounted for the majority of white collar workers and civil servants in Germany (57%), but they only occupied about one quarter of the senior and management posts. In the expanding high-tech fields it was even rarer for them to be found at the top than in the traditional sectors. Their best chances are in services, including the public service. Most of the men in senior positions are married and live with their families, while this applies to only about half of the women. The average net monthly earnings of full-time employees in senior posts in 2002 was DM 4 800 (2 454 euros) for men but far less for women at only DM 3 180 (1 626 euros). White collar workers in management posts earned DM 6 000 net (3 068 euros) and DM 3 550 (1 815 euros) respectively. The differences are not so marked in eastern Germany, where men in senior posts earned 'only' about 1.2 times as much as women. Here, the average salary of senior white collar workers and civil servants in 2000 was DM 3 050 (1 559 euros) net, clearly below the west German level of DM 4 500 (2 301 euros). Altogether there is much leeway to be made up regarding the share of women in senior posts and their earnings. The Federal Government has committed to improving the position of women in working life under the Amsterdam Treaty. In view of the growing need for skilled workers the private sector will also have to make much greater efforts.