The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports, based on data from the European statistical agency Eurostat that around 1.9 million employed people in Germany held a management position in 2025. This equates to 4.4 per cent of all employed people. In other words, around one in every 23 employed people had managerial responsibility. The figures were published on 4 November 2026.
The proportion remained almost unchanged over the ten-year period: it was 4.5 per cent in 2015, marginally higher than in 2025. Under the definition used, management positions include the management of small businesses, the executive or departmental management of large companies, and senior roles in the public administration. The figures are based on the Eurostat classification cited by Destatis in its announcement.
The release refers to a breakdown by characteristics such as sex and working hours. Eurostat and Destatis tables show how managers are distributed between full-time and part-time work and the proportions of women and men in management roles. Destatis does not offer further assessment or analysis of causes in its release; the figures describe the measured position for the 2025 reporting year.
The finding that the proportion was almost unchanged over the ten-year period fits longer-term patterns, but does not by itself support conclusions about promotion practices, qualification structures or staffing strategies. Such interpretations go beyond the original release and should be understood as context. The key figures here are 1.9 million managers, accounting for 4.4 per cent of all employed people in 2025.
Methodologically, it is important to note that the terms ‘manager’ and ‘management position’ are clearly defined in the Eurostat classification and may differ from other labour-market classifications. The results should therefore be interpreted within these boundaries. Destatis does not convert or apply them to different business or legal definitions in its release.
The figures relate to Germany and were announced by Destatis on 4 November 2026. They are based on the latest Eurostat analysis for 2025 and form part of official reporting on management roles in working life.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).