The proportion of women in the workplace has significantly increased in recent decades, whether as an employee in a company, as an entrepreneur or even as a manager in a company. The figures show, however, very clearly that the potential of women is far from exhausted, even though the educational level among women is higher on average than among men. The causes here are numerous, ranging from the lack of information about occupations during the education and vocational training to wage disparity in the profession. We, BUV, support, and therefore encourage, women in companies and women entrepreneurs through the women platform, which we have established, and through best-practice examples from our member companies at various events.
In the workplace
Equality between men and women in the workplace still represents a challenge in politics, economy and society. Especially the lack of reconciliation of work and family life is one of the main obstacles for women to pursue a career. Also in leadership positions, the number of women has increased with currently 30%, but they still constitute a minority. In the directors and executive positions, women are under-represented with respectively 13% and 4% as well. So far, the potential of well-qualified and highly motivated women is limitedly used.
As businesswomen
For women entrepreneurs, however, a very different picture comes to the fore. Here, too, the number of businesswomen is low in comparison to men, but in companies founded by women a much higher chance of success emerges. They are innovative, concerned about sustainability, create jobs and shape a modern image of women in society, through their independence and performance. So far, however, the potential of the numerically strong represented, well qualified and highly motivated women has been limitedly used – in both economic and social sense. It is crucial to draw attention to this potential. The event organized in January 2013 on ‘Successfully starting a business: Women as entrepreneurs’ was the kick-off event to generate awareness of the potential of business women with and without a migration history and to enable an exchange of ideas and strategies on how this potential can be economically exploited. Also in the future, BUV wishes to provide business women from its member associations with a platform to exchange ideas and build a strong network of contacts and latest business news.