How to Close the Gender Gap for Women in Technology
The technology industry has grown rapidly and with that growth comes an increased demand for skilled tech workers.
According to recent studies, the percentage of women in technology roles is on the rise; however, there is still a noticeable gap between men and women in terms of job placement statistics.
So, what’s causing the lack of gender diversity? And are women equally successful in the tech roles they’re placed in?
Let’s take a closer look at some of the latest findings to find out what it might be like to be a woman in tech…
What does it mean to be a woman in tech?
A Pew Research study found that, while women account for almost half of the workforce, when it comes to jobs in STEM (science, engineering, technology & math) fields the numbers are far lower.
As of the time of this study, women account for only 15% of roles in engineering. And when it comes to women in computer occupations, women make up only 25% — a number that has remained unchanged since 2016.
We know women are underrepresented in the technology industry — it’s right there in the numbers, clear as day — but answering the question of WHY women in tech are underrepresented takes a little more digging.
The higher education gap between men and women
One of the main factors that contributes to the employment gap for women in technology is the educational degree gap.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), women are less likely than men to earn engineering or computer science degrees. In fact, women make up just 19% of all computer science graduates and 25% of all engineering graduates.
The turnover gap between men and women
Another factor that contributes to the employment gap for women in tech is employee retention.
This widely reported topic has shown that women are more likely than men to leave the tech industry, due to a variety of factors such as hostile workplace culture, lack of support, gender bias, and discrimination — all leading to diminished mental health.
In fact, a McKinsey report done in 2018 on Women in the Workplace showed that 45% of women in tech roles have experienced sexual harassment including a separate 30% reported for women of color.
The pay gap between men and women in technology
One of the most significant contributing factors to the employment gap for women in tech is the pay gap.
According to the Pew Research Center, “The median earnings of women in STEM occupations are about 74% of men’s median earnings in STEM.”
This discrepancy becomes even wider when it comes to women of color. Overall, these wage gaps make it difficult for women to advance in their careers and earn a livable wage.
The leadership gap between men and women
The final contributing factor to the employment gap for women in tech is the representation gap when it comes to leadership and executive positions.
Studies have shown that there are fewer female leaders and women on the board of directors in the tech industry.
In fact, when it comes to promotion practices, one study reports that for every 100 men promoted to managerial positions, only 85 women were promoted, Latinas at 71, and black women at only 58.
This means that at the beginning of 2020, women only held 38% of higher-level positions while men held 62%.
This can lead to a lack of female role models and mentors, which can make it difficult for women to advance their careers.
Are women less successful in tech roles?
While the number of women in tech roles is drastically lower than men, that doesn’t mean there aren’t countless examples of successful women in STEM.
Talented women the world over are making strides to ensure that the achievements of women do not go unnoticed and lead to equitable career advancement.
As a national staffing agency exclusively working in IT, Tech, and digital marketing job placements, Mondo is lucky enough to get a first-hand look at the latest employment trends to help inform hiring strategies.
Our agents work with thousands of job candidates every year meaning our industry insights are as real-time as it gets.
We did a little digging into our very own historical staffing placement data and what we found was a bit of a wake-up call…
Mondo placements for women in tech
Of all tech and non-tech job placements from 2019-present, men accounted for 57% of overall placements while women accounted for 43%.
Of the IT placements from 2019-present, there was a larger gender inequality with women making up 29% of placements in IT roles and men making up 71%.
Contract placement times were longer for women in tech
Average contract durations for women averaged 50 days longer than men in terms of all tech and non-tech-related placements.
In terms of IT-specific placements, placement contracts for women averaged 2 days longer than men.
Average pay was less for women in tech
Of all tech and non-tech roles placed, women averaged $12/hr less than men, and fell about $7/hr under the total average pay rate, while men came in about $5/hr over the total average pay rate.
Women in the tech category made about $10/hr less than men, and fell about $7/hr under the total average pay rate, while men came in about $3/hr over the total average pay rate.
Candidate submissions for women in tech
Of all tech and non-tech-related candidate submissions to hiring managers from 2019 – present, about 65% were male and 35% were female.
While men and women have the same likelihood of being hired for a role they were submitted for in all tech and non-tech roles, men are about 2 times more likely to be submitted for a role than women.
Despite these challenges, however, women are making great strides to improve gender equality in the tech industry.
How can you help to close the gender gap in tech?
1. Become a mentor for women in tech
With the right support and mentorship, many of the challenges women face in technology fields can be overcome.
2. Be an advocate for women in tech
If you see a lack of diversity in your field, your company, or other tech companies speak up and do what you can to support change.
3. Encourage women to pursue a career in tech
Sometimes all it takes is the support of technical women in their pursuit of a STEM career opportunity.
4. Business leaders push for more diversity in leadership
If you’re in a position of power or leadership at your organization, you are in the best position to affect change.
5. Donate or volunteer for organizations that support women in tech
Organizations like National Girls Collaborative Project, Women in Engineering Proactive Network, and Black Girls Code all work to offer tools, resources, education, and mentorship to help close the race and gender gap and break down the barriers to women in the technology industry.
The future of women in tech
While there is still a lot of work to be done, it’s encouraging to see the progress that has been made in recent years. And with staffing agencies like Mondo working to place female leadership in tech, we can only continue to move forward.
Mondo Matches Great Talent With Great Companies
With an expansive, connected network of the top IT, Tech, Creative, and Digital Marketing professionals and a proprietary process, Mondo can match you with the hard-to-find, specialized talent you need.
- Contact Mondo today for all your hiring needs
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