Companies are increasingly aware of the transformative role they play in society. It’s for this reason that corporate leaders have for several years promoted plans to achieve equality between men and women within their organizations. However, and for different reasons, not all sectors are advancing at the same speed.

This is the case for technology, an industry in which there has long been a clear male predominance and which, despite multiple efforts, still today fails to come close to its equality objectives. In fact, according to the report Digital Gender Gap 2023 published by the National Observatory of Technology and Society (ONTSI), fewer than 20% of specialists in digital technologies are women. Such information may seem difficult to understand if we especially take into account that it is a highly desirable sector of employment and that, moreover, this employment area demonstrates the capacity for progressive evolution in areas such as professional development and work-life balance.

Technology is constantly evolving, growing at a dizzying pace and positioning itself as a key component of the present and future economy, which means that the demand for talent far exceeds the supply. For example, according to DigitalES, the Spanish Association for Digitalization, Spain ended 2022 with more than 120,000 unfilled jobs due to the lack of specialized workers, an increase of 70% compared to the previous year.

Significantly, when it comes to training, it is no longer necessary to invest long periods of time to specialize in some of the most promising technologies. While years of professional training or university studies were previously required, the reality today is very different. It is enough to carry out intensive training - such as bootcamps - that allow access to the labor market in just months or even mere weeks.

Finally, it should be added that technology is one of the most advanced sectors in terms of conciliation. The new productivity metrics, the flexibility of schedules and teleworking are clear examples of this. While the end of the pandemic meant a return to the offices for many companies, 60% of the job postings listed in technology offer a hybrid or remote work model, as stated in the Annual Report on Salaries and the Technological Ecosystem published by the technology recruitment platform Joppy.

Such factors make one wonder how it can be possible that in a sector with these possibilities, we do not find more ways to achieve equality objectives. What should we do so that women can be more committed to developing their careers in the world of technology?

Despite the fact that women have gradually climbed the ranks in the technology industry, the glass ceiling is still a reality, both in terms of educational and professional growth. In the first case, the lack of female role models, mentors and networking contacts means that the choice of STEM careers by women still remains very low. In fact, according to the previously mentioned ONTSI study, in 2021, only 13.5% of the students in the computer science field were women. Secondly, data shows that the gender gap is even greater when we analyze how many women manage to hold a management position ― only 15%, according to the report Women in Business 2022.

It is true that in recent years we have taken great steps to mitigate this gap through actions such as ICT training programs exclusively for women and girls, and it is increasingly common to see women leading technology companies or technology-related divisions within non-technological companies. Still, it is essential that as organizations, as public entities and as a society, we must consciously promote both the professional development of women and the interest of girls in STEM studies.

Technology is a transformative and value-generating area, and achieving this equity will bring us more evenly distributed wealth, paving the way towards a better, fairer and more sustainable future. Let's all work together to break down barriers, be agents of change and get women to believe in themselves and allow our professional careers to lead us to wherever we set out to go.

Tania González, NEORIS EMEA Marketing & Communication Manager