Why women are disappearing from Europe’s tech workforce
Why Women Are Disappearing from Europe’s Tech Workforce
A new report reveals that women constitute less than 20% of the tech workforce across Europe, raising concerns about the growing gender imbalance. This decline could accelerate as artificial intelligence transforms the industry, according to McKinsey & Company’s analysis. In 2025, the proportion of women in core tech roles dropped to 19%, a 3% decrease from 2024. The findings signal that progress toward gender equity in tech has stagnated, with the report emphasizing the need for targeted action.
Gender Gap Worsens Amid AI Expansion
The report warns that AI’s rapid integration into tech roles may deepen existing disparities. Without deliberate efforts to address underrepresentation, the gap between men and women in the sector is expected to grow. This trend has led to a reduction in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the US and Europe, reversing gains made during the 2010s when programs aimed to attract women to STEM fields.
“As AI reshapes roles and value creation in tech, existing gender gaps could widen without deliberate action,” the report noted.
Education and Career Progression Challenges
Research highlights a critical shift in women’s career trajectories. While girls tend to perform better in STEM subjects during primary and secondary education, only 32% of female students pursue tech-related bachelor’s degrees. Despite this, women remain underrepresented in tech jobs, with just 19% of the workforce being female. The report identifies career progression as a key barrier, as women’s participation in the tech labor force declines by up to 18 percentage points before reaching managerial positions.
Field-Specific Disparities and Layoffs
Women are disproportionately affected in certain tech roles. Software companies, for instance, face a 15-point gap between entry-level and leadership positions. Additionally, women are concentrated in fields like product management and design, where they make up 39% and 54% of the workforce, respectively. However, these roles rarely lead to executive positions, and layoffs in these areas further exacerbate the issue.
Workplace Culture as a Major Factor
The report attributes much of the attrition to workplace dynamics. Nearly half of women in tech reported experiencing sexism or bias in the past year, while 82% said they had to demonstrate their competence more than male colleagues. Isolation, often described as being the “only one” in a room, contributes to this challenge. Women also shoulder more unpaid tasks, such as resolving conflicts or organizing events, adding 200 hours of “office housework” annually to their responsibilities.
“Workplace culture is the main reason why women leave their tech jobs,” the study concluded.
Need for Strategic Interventions
McKinsey recommends that companies adopt clear representation targets and monitor them quarterly to combat the gender gap. The report stresses that improving workplace culture is essential, as it strongly correlates with women’s retention in tech roles. In countries like Finland and Sweden—traditionally strong on gender equality—women still represent only 36% and 23% of tech workers, respectively. These insights underscore the urgency of addressing systemic issues to ensure diverse perspectives guide the future of technology.