The 2024 Women in Tech Insights survey of nearly 400 female talent across the US, UK, and Canada shows progress towards gender parity in this field, but some persistent barriers continue to hinder total equity in the workplace.    

The survey provides evidence that women are achieving and experiencing progress in a field that has historically kept them out due to systemic barriers and a challenging work-life balance. A majority say they feel adequately represented by their company's leadership and that its inclusion policies are effective. Moreover, a majority expressed confidence in their abilities to do the job they have, and one in four want to advance to a leadership role.

“Feeling supported and having equal access to job opportunities are key to encouraging women to pursue a sustained career in the tech field. With most saying they are content with their employer, we believe this will further shrink the gender gap in tech and drive more equitable and inclusive practices in many organisations,” said Annelise Smith, Managing Director for Lorien Managed Solutions. “While the data is a positive indicator of trends in this field, companies cannot be complacent in their efforts to attract, develop, and advance the next generation of women in tech.”

Indeed, Lorien found that women are still struggling with aspects of working in the industry. For instance, work-life balance remains the most significant challenge for two in five women as demanding jobs force them to choose between personal and professional obligations. A majority also say female workers are often discouraged from pursuing a career in this profession, with those in North America feeling this way at a higher percentage (63%) than peers in the UK (54%).

More evidence of progress

While these findings are indicative of the gender disparity that still exists, Lorien’s latest research further bolsters the idea of gains for women in tech and STEM roles. Earlier this year, SRG’s 2024 Global Talent Trends & Insights research, conducted with New Scientist Jobs Magazine, found a considerable narrowing of the gender pay gap among scientific professionals. Today’s research shows that women are not only making gains in wages but also feeling included and supported at work.

To build on this momentum, survey participants say there are ways for employers to further gender parity in the workplace. About half (56% in the UK and 50% in North America) say having an equal gender balance in a company’s workforce would significantly entice them to join. More than half (58%) in the UK say a company offering professional support networks for women is a compelling employee value proposition, while 48% in the US say strong female leadership representation would be an effective incentive.

“As we witness more and more companies build on their employee resource groups for women and promote female leaders, this will have a snowball effect in attracting talent and advancing women’s careers,” said Ann Bookout, SVP, ED&I and Change Effectiveness for Impellam. “We believe providing these resources, along with mentoring and other support mechanisms, will accelerate women’s careers and increase their numbers at the leadership level.” 

The 2024 Women in Tech Insight report is available in two versions: one containing UK insights and one with North American data. Each version contains survey responses from participants from their respective regions.