A software development company has reported a significant increase in the number of women applying for its tech jobs — suggesting that efforts to improve gender parity in the sector may be working.
BairesDev said Thursday it receives more than one million applications each year and that between 2015 and 2021, it saw the percentage of female candidates increase from 11% to 41%.
Because of that volume, the firm said it believes the trend may extend to the broader tech industry, a sign that diversity and inclusion efforts may be paying off.
Among other things, employers in the sector have focused on learning and development, ensuring gender parity in training opportunities. Others have prioritized mentorship. Still more have worked to remove cultural barriers for women.
But BairesDev said the industry still has a long way to go. A perception of a “bro culture” within the sector lingers, and women account for only 1 in 5 individuals working in the industry, according to the report. The firm called that statistic “alarming” and suggested that employers can’t let up on diversity and inclusion efforts — and may need to continually work to improve hiring strategies.
