Diversity in ICT: The Persistent Problem

Given the compelling arguments for diversity – the economic advantages, the ethical imperative, and the societal importance of a field as influential as ICT – you'd think organisations would be tripping over themselves to build diverse teams. You'd think the allure of a competitive edge, combined with the moral obligation to create an inclusive workplace, would be enough. But are European organisations truly motivated to make the necessary changes, even without the heavy hand of government regulation?

Today we want to discuss the current state-of-play for the European ICT sector, as we continue our deep-dive series into diversity.

Slow-Running Diversity

Despite continuing efforts there are many examples that show that Europe is lagging behind on workplace diversity and that overall progress in Europe’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is generally slow. There is a strong focus on gender equality in government and business, but there is still slow progress in many industries, with several deeper underlying reasons.

A recent study by 安永 found that only 7% of organisations are genuinely building a diverse and inclusive workplace culture. Key findings include:

• Only 40% of managers come from underrepresented groups (16% excluding gender diversity), compared to 61% of non-managerial employees (31% excluding women).
• Diversity is not just about gender equity, but still less than 50% of organisations have measures addressing cultural, LGBTQIA+, and socioeconomic diversity.
• Around 30% of employees have experienced discrimination or bullying in their organisation, yet nearly half did not report it.
• The average DEI Index score for European companies is 5.69 out of 10, with only Switzerland achieving a passing grade (6.0).

Eurostat data further confirm these challenges.

It’s safe to say that the inability to create diverse workplaces isn't merely an aesthetic issue; it's a systemic failure. This isn't some minor glitch in the societal matrix; it's a fundamental flaw that extends far beyond the confines of ICT, seeping into the very foundations of STEM, and beyond. And the irony? This ever-present problem seems surprisingly difficult to grasp.

Next week we want to talk about why this might be. What are the societal and cultural impacts influencing people’s choices? And how can the narrative be shifted to promote a more diverse and equitable ICT workforce?

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