Mind the gender gap – and why leap over it

Gender inequality in technology is a persistent problem that manifests in several ways.

First, women are still, overall, underrepresented among students of engineering and ICT, and, consequently, in the workforce. While there is considerable gender segregation within engineering and technology, the largest fields tend to be those where the underrepresentation of women is most glaring. These include, at least in Finland, fields like automation and electrical engineering. (More in our report and annexes.)

Second, career advancement is harder for women than for men. In the male-dominated workplaces, men achieve higher positions at a disproportionately greater rate. It is particularly hard for a woman to obtain a role in top management. The culture of engineering and technology continues to be strongly masculine, and women are required to prove their competence over and over again. The culture is also rife with stereotypes that favour men and disadvantage women.

Thirdly, in terms of salaries, there is a considerable gender pay gap. While the size of the gap varies according to country and context, it remains significant. In a study conducted last year, we found a gender pay gap of 9.5%, with an unexplained portion of 5.5%. What this means in practice, is that women in Finland are losing thousands of euros annually, compared to men in similar job roles and with the same education and length of experience.

Additionally, there is significant gender income disparity within STEM fields. In a fresh study, we found that among 30- to 40-year-old STEM degree holders in Finland, the income of women was always lower than that of men. While we can understand that parenthood has differing impacts on men and women, it is hard to comprehend why the income of women who did NOT have children was also far beneath the income of men.

Fourthly, women experience inappropriate treatment, discrimination, and harassment far more frequently than men. For example, our recent study on age discrimination at work revealed that while men also encounter negative stereotypes and discrimination related to age; women encountered these twice as often.

Hence, one could wonder why we at TEK, me personally, and many others, are so keen to see more women in technology? Perhaps we just want others to encounter the same hurdles and misery that we have been subjected to?

No, of course not.

The reason why we want more women is that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Engineering and technology offer interesting and meaningful jobs with continuous opportunities to learn and grow. It is fascinating to be in the vanguard of changes which can make our lives, and the lives of others, better in various ways.

We say to graduating students that with their degree in engineering and technology, they can change the world. If that is not alluring and exciting, what is?

This blog is based on my Keynote speech (part 1) given at NWiTA Gala 2025, October 10, Helsinki.