Women in Tech are still outnumbered by men 4-1 in the workplace

Women in STEM are fighting a frontline battle when it comes to workplace equality. The 2023 Women In Tech Report by Skillsoft ($SKIL), a global leader in corporate digital learning, found that 45% of females surveyed say they are outnumbered by a staggering 4-to-1 ratio or more – a drastic jump from just 25% who said the same in 2021.

“The gender imbalance is a problem that affects women in and out of the tech industry,” said Skillsoft Chief Information Officer Orla Daly while speaking with Built By Girls for the video series “How I Started in STEM.”

The Skillsoft report surveyed 1,321 women from countries around the world to get an in-depth picture of the broader tech industry. Currently, women hold just 26.7% of jobs in tech according to Forbes, with more than half of women in tech leaving the industry by the mid-point of their career, a rate that is more than double that of their male counterparts.

“As progress made in closing the gender gap has reversed, it’s not surprising that we also found job satisfaction rates dropping among women working in tech, with nearly 40% considering changing jobs this year,” said Daly. “Fewer women working in tech can create a less welcoming environment and lead to fewer women in senior leadership positions. And without visible examples of successful women tech leaders, it becomes harder to not only retain those already in the industry, but also to inspire and attract new, aspiring female technologists.”

Lack of Opportunities in the Workplace is Disheartening

Another issue facing women in tech, highlighted in the Skillsoft IT Skills and Salary research is advancement - or lack thereof - in the workforce. The research found that among technology professionals with at least 26 years of experience, 15% of men hold executive-level positions compared to just 4% of women. And nearly 30% of female technologists reported dissatisfaction with their current growth potential and 36% considered leaving their jobs due to a lack of opportunities.

“It's very apparent from our research that women in technology are seeking career growth,” explained Daly. “When we asked women how organizations can better support them, their top responses were by providing professional development and training, followed by more coaching, mentoring, and career counseling. Providing these benefits will not only help organizations engage and retain women technologists, but will help them fill critical gaps for technical skills and leadership competencies. When organizations invest in employees, especially women, they’re also investing in their own growth.”

Persistent Pay Inequality Continues

Despite STEM jobs statistically being higher paying jobs for both men and women, Pew Research shows that women in STEM have a median income that is only 74% of men's median income. Add to that The World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report in 2022 finding that at the current rate, it will take 132 years to reach gender parity globally.

“Employers must review their pay structures and policies to remove inequitable practices,” said Daly. “Being fully transparent not only about the pay gaps that exist within an organization, but also what factors go into pay and raises, can also help drive pay decisions that are fair and equitable. Current compensation performance review processes often use standard percentage increases across the board for well-performing employees. While this may be a well-intentioned practice, in reality, it only further exacerbates existing pay gaps. Organizations need to move from equality (sameness) to equity (fairness) and focus on specifically closing the pay gap during this process.”

More to check out:

How I Started in STEM with Skillsoft CIO Orla Daly

How I Started in STEM with Wicked Saints Studios CEO Jess Murrey

Female Gamers Push the Video Game Industry to Unprecedented Levels