Gender and IT employment

3.1 Overview

There were 433,000 female IT specialists in the UK workforce during 2025 - 22% of the total at that time. As illustrated in the chart below, the level of female representation in IT has increased slightly over the past five years but remains well below the level observed within the workforce as a whole (49%).

TRENDS IN WORKFORCE REPRESENTATION (2021-25)

Source: ONS Quarterly Labour Force Survey, analysis commissioned by BCS

If the level of representation for female workers in IT specialist positions was equal to that amongst the workforce as a whole (49%) during 2025, there would have been an additional 535,000 women in IT roles in the UK.  

3.2 Representation across the UK

Amongst the UK nations/regions, the East Midlands and North East were associated with the lowest level of female representation amongst IT specialists in 2025 (below 20% in each case). By contrast, Wales, the East of England, London and the North West displayed the best ‘gender balance’ with women accounting for 23% or more of IT specialists in these areas.

WORKFORCE GENDER REPRESENTATION BY NATION/REGION (2025)

Source: ONS Quarterly Labour Force Survey, analysis commissioned by BCS