The European Central Bank published a report reviewing gender diversity at the ECB from 2013 to 2025, highlighting steady gains in female representation and the role of its two Gender Diversity Strategies in shifting the balance, particularly at senior management level. The review shows progress across all salary bands, while noting that several 2025 targets under the 2020-26 strategy were not yet met. By 31 December 2025, women represented 39.4% of senior management (K–L salary bands), up 8.8 percentage points since 2019 and close to the 40% target, and women accounted for at least 33% of positions in every band. Under the 2013-19 strategy, women reached 30.8% of senior management positions by end-2019 (above the 28% target), while women in all management roles (I–L bands) rose from 18% in 2013 to 30.3% in 2019 (below the 35% target); female staff overall were 45.3% at end-2019. Under the 2020-26 strategy, one of five female-share targets was achieved by end-2025 (Analyst level E/F bands at 52% versus a 51% target), while targets were missed at Expert level (44.4% versus 47%), Team Lead level (36.2% versus 42%) and across all management roles (33.7% versus 36%). Intake data showed at least 50% of new appointments and promotions at Analyst and senior management levels went to women, with overall hiring remaining within a 40-60% gender split despite only partial achievement of the universal 50% female intake target. The report notes that, while the strategy runs through 2026, it is unlikely that all gender targets will be fully met by the end of 2026, although the gap is expected to narrow. It also describes supporting measures including targeted outreach and scholarships, gender-neutral job adverts, mandatory unconscious-bias training for recruitment panels, recruitment safeguards where female applicants are less than one-third of the pool, leadership and mentoring programmes, and flexible working and caregiver support, alongside the ECB’s EDGE MOVE and EDGEplus certifications obtained in 2023.
European Central Bank 2026-03-02
European Central Bank reports gender diversity progress with women at 39.4% of senior management by end-2025
The European Central Bank's report on gender diversity from 2013 to 2025 highlights progress in female representation, particularly in senior management, though several 2025 targets remain unmet. By end-2025, women held 39.4% of senior management roles, nearing the 40% target, with at least 33% representation across all salary bands. Despite partial achievement of the 2020-26 strategy targets, the ECB anticipates narrowing gaps by 2026, supported by initiatives like targeted outreach, gender-neutral job adverts, and unconscious-bias training.