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By Upasna Bechan, Head of Product at HyperionDev

Women remain significantly underrepresented in the tech industry, a notably pronounced trend in South Africa. Despite high unemployment rates, 77% of South African firms have difficulty filling key tech positions, and women hold less than a quarter of these roles. This gender disparity is not unique to South Africa. 

A recent McKinsey report for example, reveals that women represent only 24.5% of tech positions in the UK. Globally, the tech industry anticipates creating 69 million jobs by 2027, emphasising the critical need to harness women’s talent in this field.

Societal stereotypes and gender biases often depict tech as a male-dominated field in South Africa. Coupled with limited access to STEM education and mentorship opportunities for girls, this perception significantly restricts the number of women pursuing careers in technology. Gender pay gaps and limited career growth further compound the issue.

So, what can be done to attract more women into the tech industry? 

Create an inclusive learning environment 

Companies must create inclusive and supportive learning environments that reflect a diverse workforce and bring together a broad range of perspectives, fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered. Doing so can significantly enhance engagement, effectiveness, and career longevity for women in tech, countering the often unwelcoming or hostile culture they may face.

Harness observational learning 

Observational learning, or learning by watching and imitating others, is an underrated yet highly influential factor. When women and people of colour do not see themselves reflected in the tech industry, it becomes difficult for them to envision a future in that field. Cultivating diverse role models and representation is essential to breaking down these barriers. 

Introduce mentorship programmes 

Increasing female representation in tech begins with acknowledging disparities and setting clear goals. Companies should establish mentorship programs that pair young women with experienced female professionals to enhance networking and professional growth. Women-centric resource groups can offer support and a platform to share experiences. Promoting women into leadership positions can inspire and motivate the next generation.

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Improve hiring processes

Unconscious biases in hiring processes often disadvantage women. To address this, companies should adopt double-blind recruitment strategies that minimise these biases by making resumes anonymous and conducting initial interviews without revealing gender.  Additionally, training hiring managers to recognise and mitigate implicit biases enhances fairness, ensuring that candidates are evaluated based on their skills and experience rather than subjective impressions.

Listen to and address women’s issues

To foster an inclusive tech industry, listening to and addressing the challenges women face is crucial. This includes implementing policies that address gender-based discrimination, harassment, and work-life balance. Open dialogue platforms and actionable follow-ups demonstrate a commitment to a supportive environment for women.

Create and support education initiatives 

Education is a key pillar in bridging the gender gap. Simultaneously, education systems must evolve to meet future demands. The emergence of alternative education methods like coding bootcamps, which promote immersive learning, is becoming an effective learning method. In fact, our recent graduate outcomes report shows that graduates from our coding bootcamps experienced a 178% median salary increase.

Such initiatives require partnerships with educational institutions to promote tech careers and spark early interest among students. Additionally, offering internships and job shadowing programmes gives young women hands-on experience and clearer career pathways.

For broad-based impact, including rural and underserved communities in these efforts is vital. 

Eliminating barriers for women in tech will help unleash their full potential, paving the way for robust economic growth.

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