Eighty-seven per cent of IT professionals worldwide believe women are still underrepresented in the IT sector.

According to the Tech Workplace and Culture Report by ISACA, the global professional association for IT governance, a mere 41 per cent of employers had programs in place to hire more women, even though almost three-quarters of businesses report struggling to attract and retain talent.

“Women thrive in tech roles, bringing unique perspectives and expertise to make impactful contributions within the industry and their organisations,” said Anna Murray, founder, president and lead consultant of eMedia and member of ISACA’s SheLeadsTech Advisory Council.

“It is vital for the IT sector to continue prioritising efforts to both address deterrents and increase awareness and outreach to bring more women into these professions and create a more equitable and balanced tech workforce.”

ISACA surveyed more than 7,000 tech professionals around the world to compile the report as part of its SheLeadsTech program, which aims to increase representation and opportunities for women.

Last September, the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and ISACA joined forces under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signalling boosted collaboration to address the global IT talent shortage.

Miss representation

Almost half of female respondents said a lack of women in leadership and role model positions was a key factor in underrepresentation.

“Role modelling and mentoring cannot be underestimated as one of the most powerful forms of motivation and support,” said Jo Stewart-Rattray, ISACA’s Oceania ambassador, ACS vice president of Community Boards, and SheLeadsTech founder.

According to the latest figures from Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), men hold more than half of all IT-related roles and represent over 70 per cent of top earners.

“Australia’s tech sector faces a Catch-22; women remain under-represented due to a lack of visible role models, yet it is the success of these very role models that inspires others to adopt this career path and thrive,” Stewart-Rattray added.

She works hard for no money

Another barrier identified by female survey participants was pay inequality, although only 15 per cent of male respondents shared this view.

In 2024, many of Australia’s largest tech firms were found to have significant gender pay gaps, while the sector at large performed worse than the national average.

Women working in information media and telecommunications experienced a 22.5 per cent gap in median salary, while those in professional, scientific and technical services reported a 25 per cent disparity.

Gender pay gaps impact employee satisfaction, a critical metric for retention, and have been linked to lower rates of happiness and wellbeing among female workers.

Inclusion key to tackling skill shortage

ACS’s Digital Pulse 2024 revealed Australia will need 1.3 million more tech workers by the end of 2030 to meet industry demand, and increasing diversity will be a critical part of growing the workforce.

Yet, women are opting out.

Women in the sector have reported feelings of disillusionment, with half likely to leave the field by the age of 35.

Recent research found many female cyber security workers quit within just four years, citing bullying, harassment, discrimination and poor work-life balance.

“More needs to be done to increase the representation of women in the IT and technology sector—and more needs to be done to welcome their leadership and influence,” said Julia Kanouse, chief membership officer at ISACA.

“This will not only help to address the global skills gap and boost productivity in the sector—it will also create a more inclusive and diverse working environment.”