Strong demand for IT jobs as gender gap narrows across advanced economies in the UK, EU and US

The gender gap in tech has narrowed across the UK, EU and US in the past four years, according to analysis from the Financial Times.

A report by Financial Times revealed that the proportion of women in the UK working in computer related roles rose from 29% in 2019 to more than 32% throughout the last year. Also, the overall female representation rose from 30.9 to 34.1% over the same period.

A further Financial Times report highlighted that the share of EU women in computer programming and related services has increased from 23% from before the pandemic to 25% at the end of 2023.

This is due to more tech roles becoming available in banks and consumer goods companies within the EU.

According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the proportion of female workers in tech rose from 31% in 2019 to 25% by the end of 2023 across America.

There were just under 900,000 female workers in computer programming and related services out of 2.5mn in total last year.

Sai Bendi, Software Development Manager, Encompass Corporation said: “The transformative power of technology makes it an enticing and exciting sector for women to be involved in. 

However, while the latest findings highlight progress, there’s still work to be done to ensure that diversity is, rather than just a buzzword, a fundamental aspect of organisational culture and decision-making processes throughout the industry.

Beyond the excitement of being at the heart of pioneering advancements, the flexibility that many organisations now offer, including the ability to work from home is a significant draw. 

Flexible working practices are key to women being able to achieve a positive work-life balance that allows them to meet family and caring responsibilities, for example, while also thriving professionally. These evolving practices also underscore the industry’s adaptability to changing lifestyles today.”

She added: “The sector is a dynamic space, where creativity, innovation and flexibility converge, and businesses should be collectively promoting these important elements to encourage and excite women looking to break into the industry, while showing there is a place for them.

From implementing diversity and inclusion-focused initiatives to addressing bias in recruitment and promotion practices, there is a rising awareness of the need to increase commitment and action to drive greater representation and, ultimately, equality in the tech industry. 

Continued advocacy, accountability, and collaboration from all sides are vital to generating significant change and fostering a more diverse and inclusive industry for the future.”

Sheila Flavell CBE, Chief Operating Officer for FDM Group, commented: “The gender gap in tech remains startling, however, it is positive to see that tech firms across the advanced economies are starting to close the gap through gender equality policies and greater flexibility in the workplace. The rise of work-from-anywhere and flexible hours since the pandemic has shifted employee expectations and opened the door to tech for many people. 

Businesses must capitalise on this, encouraging more women into tech roles and equipping them with digital skills training to empower them to lead the development and adoption of fast-growing technologies such as artificial intelligence.”