the female share of employment in central government management positions has increased in recent years but still points to a persistently leaky pipeline figure countries marked with an asterisk had legislated quotas ie quotas implemented via the legislative process in place in in the european union countries for which data were available women held of the highest administrative positions in national government in a minimal increase of percentage points over as for the second most senior level women accounted for of posts a tiny increase of percentage points over behind these average figures there are variations from country to country particularly at the highest levels of the civil service eige for more detail and countryspecific notes please see oecd figure and annex d