Australia's ambition to build a 1.2 million-strong tech workforce by 2030 is under threat as experienced women continue to leave the sector, according to a report by Project F and the Tech Council of Australia (TCA), as reported by SmartCompany.
Current Workforce Dynamics
The report reveals that women constitute nearly half of Australia's overall workforce but only about 20% of its highly technical workforce. Alarmingly, women are leaving these roles at nearly twice the rate of men after the age of 40, creating a significant skills gap that migration alone cannot fill, according to SmartCompany.
The report assessed over 900,000 employees across various industries, highlighting that approximately 62% of the tech workforce is employed outside traditional tech companies, making these findings relevant across sectors such as finance, retail, healthcare, and government.
Challenges in Retention
Despite progress in foundational policies, many organizations fall short in implementing workplace changes that could improve retention. For instance, while around 92% of organizations offer flexible work arrangements, only about 15% have redesigned technical roles to be genuinely part-time, and a similar proportion train managers to lead flexible teams, as noted by SmartCompany.
Pay transparency is another significant gap. Although most organizations have defined internal salary bands, fewer than 40% share these ranges with candidates during recruitment, and very few publish salary ranges in job advertisements.
Strategic Implications
The departure of experienced women from the tech sector poses a commercial issue, as organizations face increased recruitment costs, loss of institutional knowledge, and productivity declines due to vacant roles. The Tech Council of Australia emphasizes that attracting and retaining women in technical roles is crucial to achieving the 1.2 million tech worker target by 2030.
Industry observers note that addressing these challenges requires more than just reports and recommendations. As highlighted by SmartCompany, the tech sector must move beyond awareness to actionable commitments, integrating diversity and inclusion into core business strategies.
Conclusion
Australia's tech sector must prioritize retaining experienced women to meet its ambitious workforce goals. This involves not only adopting frameworks like the T-EDI Standards but also ensuring that diversity and inclusion are embedded in organizational culture and leadership accountability.