New findings reveal underrepresentation and lack of inclusion in tech workplaces
More women in the tech sector are experiencing discrimination in the workplace, according to a new report, as these workers continue to suffer from lower satisfaction than their male counterparts at work.
The new 2026 Tech Workplace and Culture survey from ISACA showed that 47% of women have experienced gender discrimination in the workplace, up by five percentage points from 2024.
The findings indicate that awareness of gender discrimination in the tech sector is not yet translating into change, according to the report, as the increase comes despite persistent efforts to stamp out the issue in workplaces.
And discrimination is just one of the many issues facing women at work, the report added.
Women continue to report lower satisfaction when it comes to workplace culture, career progression, and job security compared with men.
They are also less likely to believe that they have sufficient authority on various things, particularly:
- Over contribution to the company strategy
- Over personnel decisions
- Over purchasing decisions
"Although majorities of both men and women report positive experiences, women are less likely to express satisfaction with culture, career progression, job security, and their level of authority," the report read.
Lack of representation an issue
These problems come in the wake of lagging representation for women in the tech sector, as 41% of women continue to perceive technology as a male-dominated field.
Nearly half of women (46%) also said they feel underrepresented in the IT workforce, with 32% blaming pay inequality for this underrepresentation.
According to the report, women are also more likely to face issues than men when entering the tech sector, as 30% of them said they faced gender or diversity bias or stereotypes when they started in the field.
Half of women also believe pay inequality exists between genders in the tech sector, while 26% identified self-doubt or lack of confidence as a challenge when they entered the industry.
"If organisations want to hold onto talent and support their workforce, they need to show that they are investing in their people through clear paths for progression, real support for wellbeing, and a genuine commitment to inclusion," said Julia Hermann, a member of the SheLeadsTech Global Advisory Group, in a statement.
Optimism is strong
The majority of employers are already taking steps to improve the representation and advancement of women in the tech sector, such as implementing a programme to encourage the promotion of more women into leadership roles.
Optimism is also strong among women, with 71% of them believing that their numbers will increase over the next five years.
"More people recognise the barriers women face, and there's real optimism about where representation is heading. But employer action hasn't caught up with that awareness, particularly when it comes to hiring programmes built to bring more women into the sector," Hermann said.
"That gap is exactly why now is the moment to act: the sector has built momentum around naming the problem, and the task now is to turn that into practical routes in for the next generation."
