How inclusive is the tech sector in 2024?

What's the current state of diversity in tech, according to data? And what more can organizations do to drive progress for all? Find out in this article.

There’s no finish line when it comes to diversity and inclusion. There’s always more we can do to make the world a more welcoming, supportive, and safe place for everyone—especially in the tech industry.

Despite it being a historically homogenous field, we’re gradually seeing more and more diverse professionals building rewarding and long-lasting careers across the tech space.

But despite positive moves in the right direction, there’s still a lot of work to be done to make sure everyone can seize the vast opportunities that the tech sector offers while being their authentic selves in whatever role they choose to take on.

In 2024, diversity in the tech industry is something of a mixed bag. Improvements are being made, with increased awareness around EDI issues and a growing commitment from tech companies to make things better. Representation of professionals from marginalized groups is growing, albeit slowly, with a greater visibility of professionals from Black, Latino and Hispanic, LBGTQIA+, disabled, and other minority communities.

But there are many ongoing challenges and obstacles still facing professionals from marginalized communities and demographics. Retention of diverse talent is still a major challenge for many businesses, and minority group representation in leadership remains disproportionately low. And new concerns are cropping up all the time—particularly the rise of AI and how we mitigate potential bias as we begin to rely on the technology more heavily.?

20 crucial statistics for diversity in tech

Racial and ethnic diversity

• Google increased the leadership representation of its Black, Latino and Hispanic, and Native American employees by 30% in 2024.
• Black professionals represent 13% of support specialist roles and 6% of web developer roles in the U.S. tech industry while Asian individuals account for 34%, and Hispanics or Latinos make up 5.9%.
• In the United Kingdom, 25% of tech employees are from ethnic minority groups, with 5% identifying as Black.
• This number drops to 14% for senior tech roles.
• Companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have above-average financial returns.

Disability and neurodivergence

• Only 6% of the UK's tech workforce reported being disabled, compared to 23% of the wider working-age population.
• 60% of large tech firms now have specific programs aimed at improving accessibility for disabled employees.
• During the pandemic, 23% more women in tech reported burnout compared to men, highlighting the need for better mental health support, especially for disabled workers.?
• Just 3% of tech employees have disclosed their neurodivergence to employers, despite the fact that 15-20% of the UK population is estimated to be neurodivergent.
• BCS, Chartered Institute for IT, estimates there are almost 90,000 people with hidden and visible disabilities ‘missing’ from the tech workforce.

Social mobility

• Only 9% of UK tech employees are reported to be from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, compared to 39% of the country’s population.

• People with parents from a professional managerial background make up 45% of tech workers.?
• However, 30% of entry-level tech positions are now held by individuals from underrepresented groups, including those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
• 45% of tech workers come from families where neither parent attended college, showing progress in social mobility within the industry.?
• 70% of tech internships now provide stipends or financial support to ensure inclusivity for students from lower-income backgrounds.

LGBTQIA+

• Only 0.09% of tech employees are reported as non-binary, indicating a lack of recognition in outdated company data systems.
• Trans professionals represent 17% of the tech workforce, compared to 0.5% of the working-age UK population.
• 26% of tech companies have policies that allow employees to disclose their trans identity safely and without fear of discrimination.
• Over 40% of large tech companies have employee resource groups specifically for LGBTQIA+ employees.
• LGBTQIA+ employees in tech are 20% less likely to be promoted compared to their non-LGBTQIA+ counterparts.

These statistics show that while there are some positives when it comes to diversity within the tech industry, significant challenges remain. Our efforts to enhance racial diversity, disability inclusion, social mobility, and support for LGBTQIA+ employees must continue, so that we can create a more inclusive, rewarding, and sustainable tech sector for everyone.

?? So, what can organizations do to foster greater inclusion in their workplaces?

?? For actionable tips, head over to our blog: www.revolentgroup.com/blog/diversity-in-tech-statistics