Technology may still be a male-dominated industry, but the number of women working in the field has slowly increased over the past few years. As an entrepreneurship consultant who assists startups and small businesses, I recognize the immense value diversity brings – better reflecting user needs, sparking innovation.
While historical biases contribute to low numbers of girls pursuing tech careers, promising initiatives now support the next generation. As the statistics below show, there is still a glaring gender gap in technology. However, coordinated efforts across the pipeline could see this gap narrow.
Let‘s analyze the key data points:
Snapshot of Women in Tech Roles
- Only 24% of computing jobs are held by women, down from 37% in 1995 (Girls Who Code)
- Just 17% of tech companies have a female CEO (StrongDM)
- Women occupy 34.4% of positions at major tech firms like Google and Microsoft (LinkedIn)
- Globally, the ratio of men to women in technology firms is around 3:1 (Deloitte)
Alarming Stats on Women of Color
- Only 3% of women in tech are Black or African American (CIO)
- Similarly low numbers for Hispanic and minority women
- Just 9% of LGBTQ+ women say it‘s easy to thrive in tech (CIO)
STEM Education Gap
- Only 18% of women complete tech bachelor‘s degrees in the US (GrepBeat)
- But 74% of teenage girls now express interest in STEM fields (DataProt)
Shocking Pay and Retention Divide
- In 2022, women in tech were paid 82% of what men earn (Pew Research Center)
- 50% of women working in technology quit by age 35 (Technopedia)
Signs of Progress
- Facebook‘s female workforce rose to 33.9% in 2024 (Womentech Network)
- Coding camps for girls and mentorship networks grow every year
The Road Ahead
As a consultant who assists diverse leadership teams, I firmly believe technology companies reap immense rewards when they make diversity and inclusion a strategic priority.
Initiatives helping companies set representation targets, run pay audits and foster inclusive cultures are key to balancing the scales. Supporting girls in coding early on ensures we tap this talent.
Sustained focus across the pipeline is moving the needle for women in technology. And that benefits businesses and society as a whole. The future is undoubtedly female!
Data sourced from Girls Who Code, StrongDM, LinkedIn, Deloitte, CIO, GrepBeat, Technopedia, Womentech Network, DataProt, Pew Research Center.
