Majority of German Companies Organize Women's Promotion Efforts to Boost Representation in IT and STEM

On April 23, 2026, Germany's nationwide 'Girls Day' encourages girls and young women to explore careers in technology, science, and digital fields, yet women remain underrepresented in IT professions. A recent survey by the Digital Association Bitkom, involving over 600 companies across sectors, reveals that 72% of German companies have formally designated persons or offices responsible for promoting women. Specifically, 48% of firms assign this duty to management or executive boards, 29% to human resources, and 20% to middle management. Additionally, 26% employ equality officers and 12% have diversity officers dedicated to gender promotion efforts.

Susanne Dehmel, a Bitkom management board member and part of the #SheTransformsIT initiative, highlights that while the appointment of responsible personnel marks progress, more concrete goals, visible female role models, and comprehensive training programs are critical to effectively support women’s career development in IT and digital sectors. The 'Girls Day' initiative complements these structural efforts by inspiring young women to pursue STEM careers.

Despite these organizational measures, the survey underscores ongoing challenges in increasing women's representation in technical fields. Bitkom’s detailed study offers insights into these developments and is available for download, affirming a collective push towards structural gender equality within German companies.