GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Software Industry Statistics

Diversity in tech boosts performance but remains critically underrepresented and undervalued.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The gender pay gap in tech is around 8-20%, depending on the role and region

Statistic 2

The average salary gap between white and minority software developers is approximately $10,000 annually

Statistic 3

Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their peers on profitability

Statistic 4

Companies with higher racial and gender diversity see a 19% increase in innovation revenue

Statistic 5

65% of employees agree that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones

Statistic 6

43% of companies report that their diversity efforts have led to measurable business outcomes

Statistic 7

55% of employees believe that promoting diversity improves their company's reputation and brand image

Statistic 8

Women make up approximately 25% of the computing workforce globally

Statistic 9

Only about 3% of venture-funded startups in the U.S. are led by Black women

Statistic 10

Less than 20% of the tech industry's workforce is composed of underrepresented minorities

Statistic 11

Only around 10% of the top executive roles in the software industry are held by women

Statistic 12

Black employees represent approximately 7% of the technology workforce

Statistic 13

Hispanic and Latino workers comprise around 8% of the software industry workforce

Statistic 14

Only 4% of leadership positions in Fortune 500 tech companies are held by Black women

Statistic 15

In 2022, only 18% of senior leadership roles in tech companies were held by women

Statistic 16

The percentage of software engineering roles filled by underrepresented minorities has increased by just 2% over the past five years

Statistic 17

Women hold approximately 28% of technical roles in the software industry

Statistic 18

Only about 12% of technical senior management positions are occupied by women

Statistic 19

Black women are underrepresented in tech leadership, accounting for just 1.9% of all tech executive roles

Statistic 20

The representation of women in AI and machine learning roles remains below 15%

Statistic 21

Only 13% of tech startups are founded by women

Statistic 22

56% of employees believe their workplace needs to do more to improve diversity

Statistic 23

45% of tech workers have experienced discrimination or bias at work

Statistic 24

60% of employees believe that diversity initiatives are more about optics than real change

Statistic 25

58% of women in tech say they have experienced gender bias at work

Statistic 26

70% of companies have diversity and inclusion initiatives, yet only 20% measure their success effectively

Statistic 27

LGBTQ+ individuals in tech report higher instances of harassment and discrimination, with 50% experiencing bias

Statistic 28

Companies in the top quartile for ethnic and cultural diversity are 36% more likely to outperform their peers

Statistic 29

80% of job applicants consider diversity and inclusion policies when evaluating a company

Statistic 30

Tech workers from underrepresented groups are 20% less likely to be promoted

Statistic 31

Only about 15% of all startups founded in 2022 had diverse founding teams

Statistic 32

45% of tech employees want their company to implement more inclusive hiring practices

Statistic 33

35% of women in tech have considered leaving their current job due to lack of inclusion

Statistic 34

Remote work has increased accessibility, but also highlights digital divides with marginalized groups

Statistic 35

25% of women and 20% of racial minorities in tech report experiencing microaggressions weekly

Statistic 36

70% of companies lack comprehensive DEI training programs for their employees

Statistic 37

Minority-founded startups receive less venture capital funding, averaging only 0.2% of total funding

Statistic 38

Nearly 50% of employees from underrepresented backgrounds have left their jobs due to workplace bias or harassment

Statistic 39

31% of tech employees believe their company lacks sufficient diversity policies

Statistic 40

Only 22% of men and 15% of women in tech believe their company does enough to promote inclusion

Statistic 41

42% of LGBTQ+ employees reported hiding their identity at work due to fear of discrimination

Statistic 42

78% of tech companies report having some form of diversity and inclusion training, but only 30% find it effective

Statistic 43

40% of underrepresented minority tech workers consider leaving their job because of workplace bias

Statistic 44

Nearly 60% of the U.S. workforce believes companies should do more to support diversity and inclusion

Statistic 45

Only 17% of tech hiring managers actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds

Statistic 46

Intersectionality awareness training increased retention for minority groups by 15%

Statistic 47

31% of underrepresented minorities in tech say their workplace does not support their career development

Slide 1 of 47

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 25% of the computing workforce globally
Only about 3% of venture-funded startups in the U.S. are led by Black women
56% of employees believe their workplace needs to do more to improve diversity
Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their peers on profitability
45% of tech workers have experienced discrimination or bias at work
Less than 20% of the tech industry's workforce is composed of underrepresented minorities
Only around 10% of the top executive roles in the software industry are held by women
60% of employees believe that diversity initiatives are more about optics than real change
Black employees represent approximately 7% of the technology workforce
Hispanic and Latino workers comprise around 8% of the software industry workforce
58% of women in tech say they have experienced gender bias at work
70% of companies have diversity and inclusion initiatives, yet only 20% measure their success effectively
The gender pay gap in tech is around 8-20%, depending on the role and region

Despite growing awareness, diversity, equity, and inclusion issues continue to challenge the software industry, where women comprise only 25% of the workforce, Black women lead less than 3% of startups, and minority and women representation remains critically low amid significant disparities in leadership, pay, and workplace experiences.

Equity and Compensation Gaps

The gender pay gap in tech is around 8-20%, depending on the role and region
The average salary gap between white and minority software developers is approximately $10,000 annually

Equity and Compensation Gaps Interpretation

Despite strides toward diversity, the persistent gender and racial pay gaps in tech—ranging from 8% to 20% and roughly $10,000 respectively—highlight that equitable compensation remains a critical code the industry still needs to debug.

Impact of Diversity on Business Performance

Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their peers on profitability
Companies with higher racial and gender diversity see a 19% increase in innovation revenue
65% of employees agree that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones
43% of companies report that their diversity efforts have led to measurable business outcomes
55% of employees believe that promoting diversity improves their company's reputation and brand image

Impact of Diversity on Business Performance Interpretation

Diversity isn't just a moral imperative—it's a proven business strategy, as companies embracing inclusive leadership and teams are not only outperforming their peers but also fueling innovation, enhancing reputation, and delivering measurable financial results.

Representation of Underrepresented Groups in Tech

Women make up approximately 25% of the computing workforce globally
Only about 3% of venture-funded startups in the U.S. are led by Black women
Less than 20% of the tech industry's workforce is composed of underrepresented minorities
Only around 10% of the top executive roles in the software industry are held by women
Black employees represent approximately 7% of the technology workforce
Hispanic and Latino workers comprise around 8% of the software industry workforce
Only 4% of leadership positions in Fortune 500 tech companies are held by Black women
In 2022, only 18% of senior leadership roles in tech companies were held by women
The percentage of software engineering roles filled by underrepresented minorities has increased by just 2% over the past five years
Women hold approximately 28% of technical roles in the software industry
Only about 12% of technical senior management positions are occupied by women
Black women are underrepresented in tech leadership, accounting for just 1.9% of all tech executive roles
The representation of women in AI and machine learning roles remains below 15%
Only 13% of tech startups are founded by women

Representation of Underrepresented Groups in Tech Interpretation

Despite women comprising nearly a quarter of the global computing workforce, their underrepresentation in leadership—particularly among Black women, who hold just 1.9% of tech executive roles—highlights that in the software industry, the line between innovation and inclusion remains significantly unbalanced.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Metrics

56% of employees believe their workplace needs to do more to improve diversity
45% of tech workers have experienced discrimination or bias at work
60% of employees believe that diversity initiatives are more about optics than real change
58% of women in tech say they have experienced gender bias at work
70% of companies have diversity and inclusion initiatives, yet only 20% measure their success effectively
LGBTQ+ individuals in tech report higher instances of harassment and discrimination, with 50% experiencing bias
Companies in the top quartile for ethnic and cultural diversity are 36% more likely to outperform their peers
80% of job applicants consider diversity and inclusion policies when evaluating a company
Tech workers from underrepresented groups are 20% less likely to be promoted
Only about 15% of all startups founded in 2022 had diverse founding teams
45% of tech employees want their company to implement more inclusive hiring practices
35% of women in tech have considered leaving their current job due to lack of inclusion
Remote work has increased accessibility, but also highlights digital divides with marginalized groups
25% of women and 20% of racial minorities in tech report experiencing microaggressions weekly
70% of companies lack comprehensive DEI training programs for their employees
Minority-founded startups receive less venture capital funding, averaging only 0.2% of total funding
Nearly 50% of employees from underrepresented backgrounds have left their jobs due to workplace bias or harassment
31% of tech employees believe their company lacks sufficient diversity policies
Only 22% of men and 15% of women in tech believe their company does enough to promote inclusion
42% of LGBTQ+ employees reported hiding their identity at work due to fear of discrimination
78% of tech companies report having some form of diversity and inclusion training, but only 30% find it effective
40% of underrepresented minority tech workers consider leaving their job because of workplace bias
Nearly 60% of the U.S. workforce believes companies should do more to support diversity and inclusion
Only 17% of tech hiring managers actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds
Intersectionality awareness training increased retention for minority groups by 15%
31% of underrepresented minorities in tech say their workplace does not support their career development

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Metrics Interpretation

Despite over 70% of tech companies touting diversity initiatives, a staggering 56% of employees feel their workplaces still fall short, revealing that in the quest for inclusion, many are more focused on optics than meaningful progress, especially when only 20% measure success effectively—highlighting that in tech's diversity debate, numbers may be high, but true impact remains elusive.