Women in IT: A World of Opportunity [Infographic]

Study after study demonstrates that diversity is good for business. And whereas the information technology (IT) field has long been predominantly male, it offers many opportunities for women looking for a growing career in a high-tech economy.

What kind of jobs are available in IT? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), roles include:

• Computer and information research scientists
• Computer network architects
• Computer programmers
• Computer support specialists
• Computer systems analysts
• Database administrators
• Information security analysts
• Network and computer systems administrators
• Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers
• Web developers

This infographic details how companies benefit from gender diversity, the job growth projections for various information technology occupations, and the leading tech companies that employ (relatively) high numbers of women.

Infographic Content

Gender Diversity Is Good for Business

Diversity drives innovation and boosts profitability—it’s as simple as that.

Higher levels of diversity are associated with greater sales revenue, more customers, and increased profitability.

Companies in the top quarter for gender diversity on their executive teams are 25% more likely to have above-average profits than companies in the bottom quarter.¹

Those same companies with gender-diverse exec teams are 48% more likely to outperform the least gender-diverse companies.¹

S&P 500 companies with the above-median representation of women on their boards saw²:

• Average return on equity is higher by 16%
• Average earnings risk is lower by 53%

S&P 500 companies with more women in management than the median saw:

• Average return on equity is higher by 28%
• Average earnings risk is lower by 38%

Whereas the IT Industry Still Lacks Gender Diversity...

Women make up 46.6% of the U.S. workforce,³ but they hold only 28% of all computing jobs.⁴

... The Future Is Bright in IT

• By 2031, employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 15%, faster than the average for all occupations.⁵

• Some subset occupations are growing even faster:

• Computer and information research scientists: 21%⁶

• Web developers: 23%⁷

• Software developers: 25%⁸

• Information security analysts: 35%⁹

Demand for these workers is driven by an increase in cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security.

Tech Companies Leading the Way¹⁰

Amazon

• Percentage of women in workforce: 45%
• Percentage of women in leadership: 29%
• Percentage of women in tech jobs: N/A*

Facebook

• Percentage of women in workforce: 37%
• Percentage of women in leadership: 34%
• Percentage of women in tech jobs: 24%

Apple

• Percentage of women in workforce: 34%
• Percentage of women in leadership: 31%
• Percentage of women in tech jobs: 24%

Google

• Percentage of women in workforce: 33%
• Percentage of women in leadership: 28%
• Percentage of women in tech jobs: 25%

Microsoft

• Percentage of women in workforce: 29%
• Percentage of women in leadership: 26%
• Percentage of women in tech jobs: 23%

*Amazon did not report numbers on the percentage of women in tech jobs.

Are You Ready to Learn More About a Career in IT?

A degree in information technology can help you succeed in a high-tech economy.

Purdue Global is an online university that’s tailored to the needs of working adults. We offer a wide variety of online information technology degree and certificate programs in a flexible online format that enables students to earn a degree while working and tending to family and life obligations. Request more information today.