Gender Gap in Swiss Management: Regional Disparities Persist

Switzerland has made modest but steady progress in advancing gender equality in management positions over the past decade. Recent data from the CRIF business information service reveals that women now hold 28.4% of all management positions registered in the commercial register as of February 2025, marking a 2.9 percentage point increase since 2014. This gradual improvement reflects Switzerland's ongoing efforts to address gender disparities in leadership roles, though the pace of change suggests there is still significant room for improvement.

The study highlights significant regional variations in female leadership across Switzerland. The German-speaking cantons of Aargau and Basel-Country lead with the highest proportion of female managers, approaching one-third of all management positions. Zurich and Glarus follow closely at 29.8%, while Appenzell Inner-Rhodes and Thurgau maintain a strong showing at 29.7%. However, a notable divide exists between German-speaking and Latin regions, with French-speaking cantons and Ticino showing lower representation. The canton of Fribourg records the lowest proportion at 25.5%, illustrating the persistent regional disparities in gender equality progress.

The distribution of female leadership varies dramatically across different sectors of the Swiss economy. The veterinary sector leads with 55% female representation in management positions, while social services and personal services achieve near-parity with approximately 50% female leadership. However, traditional male-dominated sectors continue to show significant gender gaps. Civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and construction maintain notably low female representation at 15% or below. The retail sector presents a particular paradox, with only 35% female managers despite women comprising two-thirds of the workforce. Recent positive trends have emerged in broadcasting, social services, and chemical product manufacturing, where female leadership has shown the most substantial growth.

Corporate board composition shows similar patterns of gradual improvement, with women now holding 24.7% of board positions, reflecting a 2.8 percentage point increase over the study period. Basel-City leads in board diversity with 26.5% female representation, followed by Aargau (26%) and Zurich (25.9%). In contrast, Zug lags with 19.5% female board members. These figures suggest that while progress is being made in corporate governance diversity, sustained effort is needed to achieve gender parity. Industry experts emphasize that future progress will require active engagement from both men and women in leadership positions, along with continued policy support and corporate commitment to diversity initiatives.