Women held 19% of technology jobs in Europe in 2025, down from 22% the previous year, according to new research from McKinsey & Company and reported by EuroNews.
The three-percentage-point decline showcases ongoing gender imbalances in the sector and raises concerns as artificial intelligence becomes a larger part of the tech economy.
The report analyzed about four million technology profiles on LinkedIn, along with workforce data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and hiring information from AI recruitment platform Findem.
Fewer Women Enter Tech Degrees
The gender gap begins before many careers start.
Girls often perform as well as or better than boys in science and math during school. Yet only 32% of female students enroll in technology-related bachelor’s degrees, reducing the number of women entering the tech workforce.
Women are slightly more likely than men to earn STEM PhDs, but that educational progress has not translated into equal representation in tech jobs.
Representation Drops Before Management
Women’s participation declines further as careers progress.
According to the research, representation falls by up to 18 percentage points before the management level, leaving women with about 13% of tech management roles. At the executive level, women hold roughly 8% of leadership positions.
Because fewer women reach management, the number of women available for senior leadership roles remains limited.
Women Clustered in Narrow Roles
Women are also concentrated in a smaller group of tech positions.
They account for 39% of product management roles and 54% of design roles, but these jobs represent a smaller portion of the overall tech workforce and often lead less frequently to executive leadership.
Meanwhile, women remain underrepresented in areas seeing the fastest hiring growth, including artificial intelligence, data science, and analytics.
Workplace Culture Drives Attrition
Workplace culture plays a major role in why women leave the tech sector.
Nearly half of women surveyed reported experiencing bias or sexism within the past year. 82% said they feel pressure to prove themselves more than male colleagues.
Many women also take on additional informal responsibilities such as organizing team activities or resolving conflicts. The report estimates women spend around 200 hours annually on these tasks.
Isolation can also contribute to attrition, as many women report being the only woman on their team or in meetings.
AI Hiring Could Widen the Gap
Researchers warn that women’s low representation in artificial intelligence and data roles could deepen the gender imbalance in the tech workforce.
Men currently hold a larger share of entry-level jobs in AI, analytics, and related fields. As these areas expand, fewer women entering them may reduce representation in the next generation of technical leadership.
The report suggests mentorship programs, clearer promotion criteria, and reskilling opportunities could help move more women into emerging AI roles.
Without stronger efforts, the decline in women’s representation may continue as the technology sector expands across Europe.
