Women in Digital

In today’s world, where technology is increasingly important, there is a growing need for people skilled in information and communication technologies (ICT). However, women are currently under-represented in this important sector, as in other areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Even though women make up 51% of the EU population, only 1 in 3 STEM graduates and 1 in 5 ICT specialists are women.

The graph below shows the number of ICT specialists from 2013, indicating that the percentage of women in ICT has not changed much over time.

Eurostat, Employed ICT specialists by sex

Changing this is important for making sure that everyone, regardless of gender, gets a fair chance to benefit from and contribute to the digital age.

What is the role of women in the digital world?

We need more girls and women in ICT for different reasons.

• Equal opportunities: We want to make sure that everyone, no matter their background, has an equal chance to thrive in the digital world in Europe.
• Highly skilled workforce: Europe needs more people in ICT jobs. The Digital Decade target is to increase the number of ICT professionals in Europe from 9 million in 2022 to 20 million by 2030.
• Diversity for innovation: More diverse and gender-balanced teams are likely to produce not only fairer and more inclusive digital technology and solutions, but better ones, too.

A Union of Equality means more girls and women accessing the same jobs as boys and men, being paid fairly, and rising to leadership positions in the ICT sector. For Europe’s economic success and for digital fairness and inclusion.

The policy aims and context

The 2022 ‘Digital Compass & Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (DDPP)’ sets specific targets for 2030 in areas like digital skills, digital infrastructure, and making businesses and public services more digital. It also highlights the importance of women having equal opportunities in the ICT work sector and sets an ambitious target to increase the number of female ICT professionals. This in turn means increasing the number of girls and women studying ICT, both at school and at university.

Member States, responsible for education policy in the EU, must submit national strategic ‘roadmaps’ about their actions to achieve all DDPP targets, published online here. They also report to the Commission about progress, and the Commission publishes an annual report on the State of the Digital Decade. The first such report is available here (see also below).

In 2019, 26 EU countries, along with Norway and the United Kingdom, signed the ‘Women in Digital Declaration’ to increase the number of girls and women in the ICT work sector. They committed to bring together government, businesses, and the community to make sure more girls and women get a fair chance in the digital world.

From 2014 to 2022, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) summarised indicators on Europe’s digital performance and tracked the progress of EU countries. As of 2023, and in line with the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, DESI is now integrated into the State of the Digital Decade report which is used to monitor progress towards all the DDPP targets. The first such report is available here.

The ‘Women in Digital Scoreboard’ was part of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). The most recent annual reports can be found here:

• WiD Scoreboard 2022
• WiD Scoreboard 2021
• WiD Scoreboard 2020
• WiD Scoreboard 2019
• WiD Scoreboard 2018

The index shows that there is still a gap between men and women in the ICT field.

This European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, signed by the Presidents of European Commission, European Parliament and Council in December 2022, commits Europe to seek a fair and inclusive digital transformation that leaves no one behind.

Particularly relevant in this context are principles 2 on Solidarity and inclusion, and 4, on Digital education, training and skills:

2. Technology should be used to unite, and not divide, people. The digital transformation should contribute to a fair and inclusive society and economy in the EU.

We commit to:

a) making sure that the design, development, deployment and use of technological solutions respect fundamental rights, enable their exercise and promote solidarity and inclusion;

b) a digital transformation that leaves nobody behind. It should benefit everyone, achieve gender balance, and include notably elderly people, people living in rural areas, persons with disabilities, or marginalised, vulnerable or disenfranchised people and those who act on their behalf. It should also promote cultural and linguistic diversity;

4. Everyone has the right to education, training and lifelong learning and should be able to acquire all basic and advanced digital skills.

We commit to:

a) promoting high-quality digital education and training, including with a view to bridging the digital gender divide.

Adopted on 23 November 2023, the Council Recommendation on Improving Digital Skills in Education aims to improve digital skills in education and training. It supports increasing the number and diversity of ICT professionals. This includes working with Member States to encourage more women in digital careers and addressing barriers for girls in ICT studies and careers. It also promotes initiatives for digital inclusion to ensure everyone has equal opportunities in the digital world.

Adopted on 23 November 2023, the Council Recommendation on the Key Enabling Factors for Successful Digital Education and Training emphasises the need to modernise education and training systems for the digital era. It suggests integrating digital technologies into teaching, empowering educators to utilise them effectively, and supporting the development of digital educational tools, with a focus on understanding and responsibly using technology. Additionally, it highlights the importance of cybersecurity measures, including awareness-raising, and investment in connectivity, digital infrastructure, and accessibility in education and training.

Funding

Commission funding programmes supporting women in the digital sector include:

DIGITAL Europe Programme

• Advanced digital skills. As part of ongoing support for education programmes (Bachelors and Masters) and different training opportunities in specific digital areas such as AI, data, High-Performance computing, quantum computing, cybersecurity, IoT and robotics, an emphasis is given to attract female students to become ICT specialists.
• € 6 million for a project to boost digital skills of young people, particularly girls, which covers activities such as the EU Code Week, summer schools and career days specifically targeting girls’ interest in taking up an ICT related study or career.
• € 2 million in 2024 for a project called ‘Girls and Women in Digital’ to build a community and support to help more females into ICT.

Horizon Europe

• This framework programme for research embeds gender equality as part of research and innovation funding, including by imposing a Gender Equality Plan on some categories of potential beneficiaries.
• It also funds specific projects like the Women TechEU call, which supports up to 130 deep-tech start-ups led by women with a budget of € 10 million.

Creative Europe MEDIA Programme

• Under MEDIA, the Commission supports campaigns to fight gender stereotypes in the creative industries. Funding also provides mentorship and training for women in film-making.

Coordination

• The Commission supports the Digital Skills & Jobs Platform, where you can find information around digital skills in Europe. The platform offers resources, articles, training and professional opportunities, and thoughts from inspirational leaders.

Other Commission Initiatives

• The European Network of Women in Digital (EWiD) encourages more girls and women to explore digital studies and careers.
• The ‘CEO Declaration on closing the digital gender gap in high-tech companies’ promotes gender equality and wants to create an inclusive business ecosystem that is accessible to everyone.
• The Women in IT Day is a free online event for women to help shape their careers in the IT industry.
• The European Digital Skills Awards (EDSA) celebrates projects like ‘Girls Code It Better’, an Italian project bringing girls into tech and STEM.
• The European Year of Skills, from May 2023 to May 2024, a year to reflect on filling skill gaps in the Union and boost the EU skills strategy.
• The ESTEAM Fests empower girls and women through digital and entrepreneurial competences.
• The Women in Cyber event provides a platform for female cyber managers and graduates from the EC Cybersecurity Training Programme to share their experiences and achievements in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity.

Other Relevant Initiatives

• The European Network For Gender Balance in Informatics (EUGAIN) is a COST Action to improve gender balance in informatics at all levels – through the creation of a European network of colleagues working on the forefront of the efforts for gender balance in informatics in their countries and research communities.