Despite significant efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the technology sector, only 20 percent of senior tech leaders are women, according to the annual Computer Weekly/TechTarget IT salary survey.
This is in stark contrast to the belief held by half of European IT staff that women are well represented in tech leadership positions.
In the UK, the Tech Talent Charter reports that women constitute only 21 percent of senior tech leaders among its signatories.
Similarly, a study by Frank Recruitment Group found that just a quarter of CIO positions in FTSE 100 companies were held by women last year.
Despite a decade of increasing discussions about DEI in the tech industry, 10 percent of IT workers in Europe stated that their companies are doing nothing to advance these initiatives within their tech teams.
“The gender gap in tech remains far too high, and it is concerning to see the disconnect between perception and reality,” said Sheila Flavell CBE, Chief Operating Officer for FDM Group.
“Progress is still slow, and there is still a lack of representation of women in senior technology roles, causing an imbalance in the boardroom. Businesses must take action to address the gap by providing pathways for women to rise through the ranks, support through mentoring schemes, and training to enhance digital skills, bringing through the next generation of female tech leaders.”
Women in tech teams
Regarding gender diversity, 62 percent of survey respondents stated that their IT departments are successfully growing and maintaining the number of women in their tech teams, while 5 percent admitted the opposite. Notably, one-fifth of respondents revealed that their tech teams comprise less than 5 percent women, and only 7 percent said that women make up half or more of their tech teams. However, over a third indicated that there are plans to hire more women into tech roles.
“While there has been progress in bringing female talent through organisations, that progress is often driven by client demand,” commented Wendy Stonefield, London Hub Executive at tech consultancy AND Digital. “Women, however, remain underrepresented in senior tech roles. Our recently released Rewards & Resilience report found that women in the tech sector face a dual reality: loving the work they do but still facing bias in the workplace, which has clearly contributed to the lack of representation in senior positions.”
Stonefield emphasised the importance of awareness regarding workplace cultures, stating, “People need to be much more aware of the cultures they create and recognise that bringing real diversity to the table is no longer optional.”
The survey’s findings highlight the ongoing challenges in achieving gender diversity in tech leadership and underscore the need for sustained and concerted efforts to bridge the gap.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
