When officials at technology companies are asked why they employ so few women, they often blame the education system for not producing enough female computer programmers and engineers. While it is true that there are far too few women graduating with degrees in computer science and engineering, that does not completely explain why the large majority of employees of tech companies are men.
It turns out that there are few women even in non-technical, managerial jobs at tech companies. A recent report by Catalyst, a non-profit organization, shed some light on the phenomenon. The report found that just 18 percent of female graduates from masters in business administration programs took managerial jobs at tech
companies, compared to 24 percent of male graduates. Furthermore about half the women who did take jobs in technology companies eventually left the industry, compared to 31 percent of men who took similar jobs.
Women gave several reasons for why they were not interested in technology-based companies. But one fact stood out: Nearly three-quarters of the women said they felt like “outsiders”
at technology companies, compared to just 17 percent of the men surveyed.
Catalyst surveyed nearly 6,000 M.B.A. graduates working at companies around the world between 2007 and 2014. The organization defined technology companies broadly to include those working in high-tech, telecommunications, energy and manufacturing.
As the editorial board wrote recently, there is a lot technology companies can do to attract more women and minorities. This matters beyond questions of basic fairness, or public relations: Studies have shown that businesses with a diverse workforce tend to be more profitable and creative than other companies.