Despite a global tech skills shortage, just over a quarter (26%) of the tech workforce are women. It stands to reason that the gender gap would be a lot narrower with so many positions needing filling, however, women are still marginalised in the world of tech.
There are many reasons why more women leave their tech careers sooner than men, and why so many avoid tech jobs in the first instance. Inevitably, these are rooted in sexism. Issues such as fewer opportunities for progression, a lack of women-focused employee benefits, male-dominated work cultures, and unequal pay continue to be rife.
Yet, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about women’s prospects in tech. Here we’ll look at some hopeful statistics to prove this, as well as outline how women can successfully embark on a career in the industry.
Women in tech: Some encouraging statistics
While there is undoubtedly a great deal of improvement still needed to encourage more women to move into tech, some statistics show the progress being made:
- According to the Women in Tech Survey 2023, although just 26% of tech roles are filled by women, this represents a 7% rise since 2019.
- Meanwhile, 61% of people surveyed said that their company is actively working on improving gender inequality, compared to just 36% in the previous survey.
- Over three-quarters of tech companies (75.5%) have introduced pay equity policies.
- More women are being hired for tech leadership positions and starting tech businesses.
- 31.4% of Apple’s leadership belonged to women in 2021 — up by 6% from 2020.
Tips for a successful tech career
Whether you want to start a career in tech or are in the industry and looking to climb the ladder, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of a successful tech career as a woman.
Develop technical skills
By constantly developing new technical skills, you can stay one step ahead of the competition. In order to do so, it’s important that you stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and programming languages relevant to their field, and seek out learning opportunities, whether through formal education, online courses, or self-study.
Build a strong network
For women in tech, networking can provide valuable support, mentorship, job opportunities, and a sense of community in what can often be a male-dominated field. Consequently, you should attend tech events, conferences, and meetups to connect with peers and mentors, while also joining online communities, forums, and social networks dedicated to tech professionals.
Advocate for yourself
As a woman in tech, you should have confidence in your abilities and value as a tech professional, and combat imposter syndrome by recognising your achievements and seeking feedback from colleagues.
Similarly, it’s important to communicate your career goals and aspirations to your supervisors, as well as negotiate fair compensation and promotions based on your skills and contributions.
Communicate and collaborate effectively
Developing strong communication skills is crucial for success in the tech industry, just as it is in any other field. Effective communication can help you convey your ideas, collaborate with colleagues, and advance your career. Some of the best ways to improve communication skills include taking public speaking or presentation skills courses, and actively engaging in collaborative projects and discussions.
Seek opportunities for leadership
Getting into leadership roles as a woman in the tech industry involves a combination of building the right skills, gaining experience, and strategically positioning oneself for advancement. Doing things like volunteering for leadership roles, taking on challenging projects and investing in leadership education can all contribute to you securing and succeeding in leadership roles.
Resources for women in tech
There are numerous resources available to support women in tech, whether you are just starting your careers or looking to advance in the field. Here are some useful resources:
Job sites
- Women-specific job sites: You can now find tailored opportunities via one of the many women’s job specific websites out there. For instance, PowerToFly connects women, particularly in tech and remote roles, with companies looking to diversify their workforce. Another example is Fairygodboss, which is a platform to review and find companies with female-friendly policies, as well as search for job listings.
- Tech-specific job sites: One example of a tech-specific jobsite is Eursap, which is focused on SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) professionals, connecting SAP experts with global job opportunities, Meanwhile, Dice is a tech-focused job site with a large number of job listings in areas such as software development, IT, and engineering.
- Other useful job websites: LinkedIn is one of the largest professional networking platforms globally. It offers a comprehensive job search feature where you can find a wide range of tech job listings, connect with professionals and companies, and get job recommendations based on your profile and interests. Other job sites you may want to use include Indeed and Monster.
Despite a global tech skills shortage, just over a quarter (26%) of the tech workforce are women. It stands to reason that the gender gap would be a lot narrower with so many positions needing filling, however, women are still marginalised in the world of tech.
There are many reasons why more women leave their tech careers sooner than men, and why so many avoid tech jobs in the first instance. Inevitably, these are rooted in sexism. Issues such as fewer opportunities for progression, a lack of women-focused employee benefits, male-dominated work cultures, and unequal pay continue to be rife.
Yet, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about women’s prospects in tech. Here we’ll look at some hopeful statistics to prove this, as well as outline how women can successfully embark on a career in the industry.
Women in tech: Some encouraging statistics
While there is undoubtedly a great deal of improvement still needed to encourage more women to move into tech, some statistics show the progress being made:
- According to the Women in Tech Survey 2023, although just 26% of tech roles are filled by women, this represents a 7% rise since 2019.
- Meanwhile, 61% of people surveyed said that their company is actively working on improving gender inequality, compared to just 36% in the previous survey.
- Over three-quarters of tech companies (75.5%) have introduced pay equity policies.
- More women are being hired for tech leadership positions and starting tech businesses.
- 31.4% of Apple’s leadership belonged to women in 2021 — up by 6% from 2020.
Tips for a successful tech career
Whether you want to start a career in tech or are in the industry and looking to climb the ladder, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of a successful tech career as a woman.
Develop technical skills
By constantly developing new technical skills, you can stay one step ahead of the competition. In order to do so, it’s important that you stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and programming languages relevant to their field, and seek out learning opportunities, whether through formal education, online courses, or self-study.
Build a strong network
For women in tech, networking can provide valuable support, mentorship, job opportunities, and a sense of community in what can often be a male-dominated field. Consequently, you should attend tech events, conferences, and meetups to connect with peers and mentors, while also joining online communities, forums, and social networks dedicated to tech professionals.
Advocate for yourself
As a woman in tech, you should have confidence in your abilities and value as a tech professional, and combat imposter syndrome by recognising your achievements and seeking feedback from colleagues.
Similarly, it’s important to communicate your career goals and aspirations to your supervisors, as well as negotiate fair compensation and promotions based on your skills and contributions.
Communicate and collaborate effectively
Developing strong communication skills is crucial for success in the tech industry, just as it is in any other field. Effective communication can help you convey your ideas, collaborate with colleagues, and advance your career. Some of the best ways to improve communication skills include taking public speaking or presentation skills courses, and actively engaging in collaborative projects and discussions.
Seek opportunities for leadership
Getting into leadership roles as a woman in the tech industry involves a combination of building the right skills, gaining experience, and strategically positioning oneself for advancement. Doing things like volunteering for leadership roles, taking on challenging projects and investing in leadership education can all contribute to you securing and succeeding in leadership roles.
Resources for women in tech
There are numerous resources available to support women in tech, whether you are just starting your careers or looking to advance in the field. Here are some useful resources:
Job sites
- Women-specific job sites: You can now find tailored opportunities via one of the many women’s job specific websites out there. For instance, PowerToFly connects women, particularly in tech and remote roles, with companies looking to diversify their workforce. Another example is Fairygodboss, which is a platform to review and find companies with female-friendly policies, as well as search for job listings.
- Tech-specific job sites: One example of a tech-specific jobsite is Eursap, which is focused on SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) professionals, connecting SAP experts with global job opportunities, Meanwhile, Dice is a tech-focused job site with a large number of job listings in areas such as software development, IT, and engineering.
- Other useful job websites: LinkedIn is one of the largest professional networking platforms globally. It offers a comprehensive job search feature where you can find a wide range of tech job listings, connect with professionals and companies, and get job recommendations based on your profile and interests. Other job sites you may want to use include Indeed and Monster.
Professional organisations
- AnitaB.org is a nonprofit organisation focused on advancing women in tech and promoting diversity in the field. It hosts the Grace Hopper Celebration, one of the largest conferences for women in tech.
- Women Who Code is a global community that provides resources and networking opportunities for women in technology and coding.
- Girls in Tech is an international nonprofit organisation that offers networking events, workshops, and educational programs to help women thrive in the tech industry.
Scholarships and grants
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE) offers a variety of scholarships to support women pursuing degrees in engineering, computing, and related fields.
- Google’s Women Techmakers Scholarship Program provides financial assistance and community support to women studying computer science and related fields.
- Adobe Research offers the Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship to female undergraduate and master’s students pursuing computer science and related degrees.
Many organisations also offer mentorship programmes and DE&I initiatives that can be useful for women in tech, while there are many books and podcasts out there that can be of great value.
We hope this has inspired you to pursue or continue a career in tech. As more and more succeed in the sphere over time, it’s certainly possible for a snowball effect to take place that sees the tech gender gap close once and for all.
- AnitaB.org is a nonprofit organisation focused on advancing women in tech and promoting diversity in the field. It hosts the Grace Hopper Celebration, one of the largest conferences for women in tech.
- Women Who Code is a global community that provides resources and networking opportunities for women in technology and coding.
- Girls in Tech is an international nonprofit organisation that offers networking events, workshops, and educational programs to help women thrive in the tech industry.
Scholarships and grants
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE) offers a variety of scholarships to support women pursuing degrees in engineering, computing, and related fields.
- Google’s Women Techmakers Scholarship Program provides financial assistance and community support to women studying computer science and related fields.
- Adobe Research offers the Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship to female undergraduate and master’s students pursuing computer science and related degrees.
Many organisations also offer mentorship programmes and DE&I initiatives that can be useful for women in tech, while there are many books and podcasts out there that can be of great value.
We hope this has inspired you to pursue or continue a career in tech. As more and more succeed in the sphere over time, it’s certainly possible for a snowball effect to take place that sees the tech gender gap close once and for all.
