Women in Tech: Statistics on their role in the industry

Diversity in the technology industry is crucial to driving innovation and growth. In a sector characterized by constant change and creativity, the inclusion of different perspectives and experiences is essential to developing more complete and adaptable solutions.

In this context, the role of women has been fundamental. Over the years, women have contributed significantly to technological progress, challenging barriers and overcoming stereotypes.

Their participation not only enriches work teams, but also fosters greater equity and collaboration, key aspects for success in the industry. Promoting inclusion and female leadership is not only a matter of justice, but a key strategy for progress and competitiveness in the technological field.

Women hold 29% of global management positions

“Over the past decade, women have made significant progress at all levels of the corporate chain of command (especially in senior management). However, progress is surprisingly fragile, especially for women of color who remain underrepresented at all levels and who see gender and race as obstacles to their advancement”, they noted in the most recent Women in Workplace report published by the firm McKinsey.

One notable thing about this report—which surveyed 15,000 employees at 281 companies—is that over the past 10 years, women’s representation in management positions has certainly increased, although not as quickly as one would wish: women currently hold 29% of management positions, compared to 17% in 2015.

They added in the report: “At the current rate of progress, it would take white women 22 years to reach parity—and it would take more than twice as long for women of color”, a worrying fact that should motivate global companies to work harder to achieve parity between women and men in the technology industry.

In the technology industry, women only occupy 11% of executive positions

When we talk about the presence of women in the technology industry, the situation is even more worrying: only 11% of women occupy management positions, according to statistics shared by Forbes.

There are many reasons that prevent women from growing much slower in the technology area: “Gender bias, lack of mentoring and limited access to professional development opportunities are just some of the main challenges. These can hinder professional growth and contribute to high dropout rates among women in technology”, they explained in the same article.

Skillsoft produced the Women in Tech report, in which they emphasized training not only in technical skills but also in soft and leadership skills. The firm's director of operations, Ciara Harrington, says that for them both skills are equally important: “Part of this means that there is technical training and training in power skills. And the two together are equally important”.

There is also a gap in promotions

Gender inequality in the tech industry is not limited to education alone, but also manifests itself in career advancement. According to a McKinsey report, for every 100 men promoted to senior positions across all industries, only 86 women achieve the same advancement.

However, in the tech sector, this figure drops dramatically to just 52 women promoted, revealing a worrying bias in career growth opportunities for women. This imbalance in promotion not only prevents equity in leadership teams, but also contributes to the lack of female representation at the highest levels of the industry.

Even though female participation at the entry levels of tech has improved, disparities remain. According to the same McKinsey report, 32% of entry-level tech hardware positions are held by women, while in software, women account for 43%. Although these figures show some representation, the gap remains evident, especially in more advanced positions.

Fewer women graduate than men in technology

Despite advances in technology education over the past three decades, women's participation in fields such as computer science remains significantly low. While degrees in technology careers have grown by 79% in the US, women only account for 18% of new computer science graduates, a worrying figure that highlights the persistent gender gap in the industry.

This disparity is even more pronounced among women from minority groups. According to data from the Women in Tech Network, cited by CIO magazine, black and Hispanic women account for only 6% of degrees in this field. This underrepresentation not only limits opportunities for many talented women, but also deprives the industry of diversity crucial to innovation.

Women are also more likely to be laid off

Women in the tech industry face greater vulnerability to layoffs compared to men. In fact, they are 1.6 times more likely to be laid off, often due to their lower seniority at companies. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that many women in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector are considering leaving their jobs.

According to recent data, 57% of women in this sector plan to leave their jobs in the next two years, citing poor work-life balance as one of the main reasons.

Furthermore, tech layoffs in 2022 disproportionately affected women. A study by the WomenTech Network, which analysed 4,912 profiles from 54 companies, revealed that 69.2% of those laid off were women. This unbalanced impact reflects not only greater job instability for women, but also the persistent lack of equality in a sector that is still struggling to offer a more inclusive and equitable environment for female talent.

Efforts to achieve parity in the technology industry must continue

The technology industry, despite its advances and its central role in the global economy, still faces significant challenges in terms of diversity and gender equality. Gaps in female representation, both in educational levels and in access to management positions, together with the greater vulnerability of women to layoffs, are problems that limit the sector's potential for innovation and growth.

Fostering a more inclusive environment, where women have the same opportunities for promotion and job stability as men, is crucial to ensuring a more equitable and prosperous future in technology. Companies must take proactive measures to remove the obstacles faced by women and promote policies that facilitate the reconciliation between professional and personal life, in order to retain and empower the female talent that is essential to the progress of the industry.

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