Managers play a crucial role in shaping organisational success and economic development, making their careers an important area of research. Despite several decades of changes in the world of work due to trends such as digitalisation, globalisation, and the transformation of organisational and staff structures, the last review of managerial careers was conducted in 2012 (Vinkenburg & Weber, 2012). This paper addresses this gap by analysing empirical research on managerial careers published between 2012 and 2022. The review is based on a systematic search and qualitative content analysis, with 57 peer-reviewed articles selected from an initial pool of more than 500 publications through a multi-stage screening process. The primary aim was to map key research themes on managerial careers, highlight prevalent focal points, and identify research gaps. The dominant research themes between 2012 and 2022 include, for example, women's careers, the careers of top managers and career preferences and career planning in the context of individual and organisational conditions. Moreover, research on managerial careers often emphasises gender aspects but tends to overlook other dimensions of diversity, such as national and social origin. While upward mobility is a key feature of managerial careers, little is known about the timing and conditions of lateral moves or downward transitions. Multilevel approaches that integrate individual and organisational factors also remain rare. By synthesising these findings, this review calls for a more nuanced perspective on managerial careers beyond traditional upward patterns.
Managers play a crucial role in shaping organisational success and economic development, making their careers an important area of research. Despite several decades of changes in the world of work due to trends such as digitalisation, globalisation, and the transformation of organisational and staff structures, the last review of managerial careers was conducted in 2012 (Vinkenburg & Weber, 2012). This paper addresses this gap by analysing empirical research on managerial careers published between 2012 and 2022. The review is based on a systematic search and qualitative content analysis, with 57 peer-reviewed articles selected from an initial pool of more than 500 publications through a multi-stage screening process. The primary aim was to map key research themes on managerial careers, highlight prevalent focal points, and identify research gaps. The dominant research themes between 2012 and 2022 include, for example, women's careers, the careers of top managers and career preferences and career planning in the context of individual and organisational conditions. Moreover, research on managerial careers often emphasises gender aspects but tends to overlook other dimensions of diversity, such as national and social origin. While upward mobility is a key feature of managerial careers, little is known about the timing and conditions of lateral moves or downward transitions. Multilevel approaches that integrate individual and organisational factors also remain rare. By synthesising these findings, this review calls for a more nuanced perspective on managerial careers beyond traditional upward patterns.