46% of young Indian tech workers surveyed report lack of awareness and support for pursuing tech careers

In addition, concerns regarding gender discrimination in the industry are pushing women to leave the workforce or reconsider taking on tech roles.

According to a study on by Wiley Edge, a lack of awareness is cited as a primary reason for the shortage of talent in India's tech industry. Notably, almost half (46%) of young professionals reported that tech careers were not promoted much to them, with that figure rising to 50% for women, while 52% didn’t receive the push even at tertiary levels of education. Moreover, 8% of young professionals said they did not receive sufficient information about tech careers, including 10% of women, and they instead relied on independent research about careers.

The report surveyed 200 senior IT decision-makers and about 1,000 young professionals aged 21 to 25, working in Indian tech enterprises. It explores the state of diversity in tech workforces amongst mid and large-size enterprises in India, and looks into various challenges and opportunities within the sector, focusing on Gen Z professionals and entry-level roles in the tech industry.

Regarding motivations behind joining the tech industry, participants named greatest opportunities as their top reason. Despite limited knowledge and support in school or college to pursue careers in the tech industry, 39% of respondents said their independent research on various industries led them to believe that tech provided the greatest opportunities. Respondents also named other reasons, where 35% were inspired by prominent figures or media, 23% received encouragement from friends, 23% possessed a natural affinity for science and mathematics, and 21% were influenced by their parents.

From data in the survey, youths overall have a mixed view on jobs in the tech industry. While 30% of Gen Zs viewed tech careers as futureproof, concerns of gender equality arise as 36% perceive the industry as male-dominated, 20% feeling unwelcome, and 20% lacking awareness of job opportunities (22% among women). Overall, 45% of respondents reported positive experiences in the tech industry, with 30% describing them as mostly positive. However, women have flagged out challenges they face. 

Among women surveyed, 25% felt uncomfortable in their current roles, and 34% expressed desire to quit as they felt unwelcomed or uncomfortable. These challenges were attributed to factors such as organisational culture or leadership (30%), lack of support or resources (33%), lack of appreciation or rewards (33%), lack of growth opportunities (40%), and unequal treatment or gender pay gaps (30%). Additionally, 32% of women said they faced discrimination in the tech recruitment market.

Within the tech industry, businesses face an ongoing battle to recruit women for various roles. A staggering 45% of companies encountered difficulties in attracting women for entry-level tech positions, 28% for mid-level roles, and 20% for senior-level openings. For a notable 13% of organizations, the struggle spans across all levels, while 20% of businesses found the process of recruiting women for tech roles easy.

Although many businesses have recognised the issue of gender diversity, this awareness does not translate into effective action. A substantial 69% of surveyed companies actively acknowledged and attempted to address the lack of gender diversity within their organisations. However, 8% are aware of the problem but struggle with taking the first step to approach this problem, and 3% have simply accepted the lack of diversity as a norm in the tech field.

To add to this, 37% of businesses admitted to having a gender pay gap problem, and 74% of them are struggling to close the gender pay gap. Moreover, 54% of companies found difficulty in retaining female tech talent. More than one in 10 businesses lack a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy.

Despite the prevailing challenges, businesses are taking initiative to support and empower women in the tech industry. A vast majority of 81% of companies offer mentorship programmes tailored to women employees, providing invaluable guidance for their professional and personal development. Furthermore, 63% of organisations prioritised internal development, aiming to cultivate women leaders from within their ranks. Reportedly, only 16% have hired external female talent for senior-level openings. In recognition of the needs of women in the workforce, 70% of businesses have updated their benefits packages, while 39% have implemented flexible working policies to attract and retain more women.

In order to improve gender diversity, businesses must expand their junior talent pipeline. However, despite the lack of diversity at top universities, 85 companies exclusively hire graduates from these institutions. In addition, 28% of organisations display a preference for graduates from prestigious universities.

The findings reveal that while progress has been made to diversify tech workforces, there is still room for improvement. The implementation of anti-bias hiring practices has yielded positive results, with 98% of businesses noticing an improvement, and  73% experiencing a significant positive impact. However, 48% of companies lack gender equity targets, 57% do not utilise neutral job descriptions, and 75% fail to request gender-diverse shortlists from recruiters or adopt blind CV reviews. Further, almost one in 10 businesses lack systems to identify and support diverse graduates who may require additional assistance.

Through closing the knowledge gap and promoting diversity, the tech industry can uncover hidden potential in talents. The report highlighted the importance of greater awareness and support for careers in the tech industry, especially for young women. Overcoming challenges of gender inequality in the industry encourages more women to consider taking up tech roles. To achieve true equality, firms must widen the talent pipeline and diversify the hiring process.

Commenting on the findings, Archana Jayaraj, Director, Partnerships & Talent APAC, and Head of Wiley Edge Operations in India, said: "The results emphasize the critical importance of bridging skills and diversity gaps within organizations to create inclusive workspaces.

"Particularly, there is a pressing need to encourage and engage entry-level talent, especially women, not only to consider but also to thrive in tech careers."

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