In 2024, women occupied 35.2% of managerial positions across the European Union, marking a steady rise from 31.8% a decade earlier, according to the latest EU labor

statistics.

Young women are leading the charge: among managers aged 15 to 39, women account for 39% of positions. However, representation declines with age, with 34.4% of managers aged 40 to 64 being women, and only 26.5% among those aged 65 and older.

Country differences highlight uneven progress

Across the EU, Sweden topped the charts with women holding 44.4% of managerial roles, followed closely by Latvia (43.4%) and Poland (41.8%). On the lower end, Cyprus (25.3%), Croatia (27.6%), and Italy (27.9%) had the fewest women in management.

Since 2014, most EU nations have seen gains in female representation. Luxembourg saw the largest jump (+13.7 percentage points), followed by Malta (+10.1 pp) and Cyprus (+7.9 pp). Conversely, Slovenia (-3.8 pp), Latvia (-0.7 pp), and Lithuania (-0.2 pp) experienced declines.

These findings shed light on both the progress and persistent disparities in gender equality within leadership roles, as the EU continues to push for more inclusive workplaces.

This report is part of a series published in recognition of International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.