A global survey has revealed that only 41% of businesses have implemented programmes aimed at hiring more women in technology roles.
The research, conducted by ISACA – a leading global professional association dedicated to advancing careers in digital trust fields – highlights a pressing issue in the tech industry: the persistent underrepresentation of women. The survey, which formed part of ISACA’s Tech Workplace and Culture report, gathered insights from 7,726 tech professionals worldwide.
Alarmingly, a significant majority (87%) of respondents believe women remain underrepresented in IT, despite 74% of organisations acknowledging that attracting and retaining talent is increasingly challenging.
BARRIERS FOR WOMEN IN TECH
The report sheds light on the obstacles contributing to the gender gap in IT. Among female respondents, 43% cited the lack of female role models and leaders in the industry as a key barrier, compared to 21% of male respondents. Pay inequality emerged as the second most significant hurdle, highlighted by 42% of women but only 15% of men.
Additionally, the survey revealed a confidence gap between genders. Men consistently rated their sense of authority within their roles higher than women did. The largest gaps were in areas such as making purchasing decisions (13 percentage points) and influencing company strategy and direction (10 percentage points).
UNDER-REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN TECH
“More needs to be done to increase the representation of women in the IT and technology sector – and more needs to be done to welcome their leadership and influence,” emphasised Julia Kanouse, Chief Membership Officer at ISACA, who oversees the association’s SheLeadsTech programme. “This will not only help address the global skills gap and boost productivity—it will also foster a more inclusive and diverse working environment.”
Survey participants identified actions educational institutions can take to promote gender inclusion in tech, including:
- Providing mentors or role models (52%)
- Establishing tech clubs or networking organizations for women (42%)
- Hiring more female tech professors (31%)
SIGNS OF PROGRESS
Despite these challenges, the report highlighted some positive trends. A majority of respondents – 68% of women and 72% of men – expressed satisfaction with their career progression. Additionally, 73% of women and 71% of men reported receiving a salary increase or promotion within the past two years.
“Having a workforce with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a business imperative,” said Sarah Orton, UK and Europe lead for ISACA’s SheLeadsTech initiative. “While progress has been made, there’s still significant work to do. ISACA is committed to supporting this critical effort.”
For a full copy of the survey, click here.
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