Women Hold 33% of Senior Management Positions in Greece

According to a survey conducted by international business advisor Grant Thorton, Greek women now hold over 33% of senior management positions in the country — which is above the worldwide average of 31%.

The annual survey recorded that just 24% of such positions were held by women in Greece last year, signaling major progress for women in the country’s workforce.

This year’s results also point to an improvement for professional women generally, albeit a small one.

Worldwide, women held an average of 29% of senior positions for two years straight, but this year the percentage moved up to 31%.

Shockingly, 24% of companies in Greece had absolutely no women in any senior positions last year, a figure that has fallen to just 13% in 2021.

Still progress to be made in Greek companies

Despite these positive signs, Greek companies still have a ways to go in terms of gender equality in the workplace.

According to the survey, a discouraging 53% of Greek companies have not taken any concrete steps to promote equal opportunities for men and women in the workplace this year, significantly more than the 18% of companies worldwide who have also avoided promoting equality.

Of the Greek companies that do implement steps to promote gender equality in the workplace, 24% stated that they strive to create an inclusive culture, and 19% offer flexible work hours to their employees.

Another 19% offer training and career development workshops, and 17% ensure business opportunities to their employees.

New Covid-19 practices may have positive impact on women in workplace

Nearly half, or 47%, of Greek companies responded that they believed that new working conditions brought about by Covid-19, such as working from home, will benefit women, especially working mothers, in the long run.

One in three Greek companies similarly responded that new practices in the workplace implemented in response to the pandemic, have helped women play a larger role in senior positions.

Greece still lagging in women in political sphere

Despite making gains in the workplace, Greek women do not fill many prominent roles in Greek politics, according to research prepared by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical agency.

In fact, Greece is next to last among all European nations in terms of the percentage of females in politics. Greece is just above tiny Malta in the table of the share of female members of government (senior and junior ministers) in the EU.

Only 11% of government seats are occupied by women in Greece, compared to Malta’s 8%.

The highest representation is claimed by Finland, where 55% of government seats are occupied by women. Finland was followed by Austria, at 53%, Sweden, at 52%, France  at 51% and Belgium, at 50%.

The European average for females who occupy political positions is 33%.