Women in Digital Index
The Women in Digital (WiD) Index is a composite indicator designed to measure and track gender equality in the ICT and digital sector across European Union Member States and selected benchmarking countries.
This framework recognises that achieving gender equality in digital leadership requires addressing barriers and gaps at every stage of the pipeline, from foundational STEM education to senior executive roles. Therefore, the index adopts a pipeline approach, following women’s participation from STEM education through to leadership positions in the ICT sector.
Digital skills relevance
The index provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and organisations working on digital skills development and inclusion. By highlighting disparities in digital education and workforce participation, it supports evidence-based initiatives aimed at encouraging more girls and women to pursue digital studies, careers in ICT, and leadership roles in the technology sector.
Why this resource matters
Closing the gender gap in digital skills is essential for Europe’s competitiveness and inclusive digital transformation. The WiD Index provides evidence that helps stakeholders identify priority areas for intervention, design targeted programmes, and monitor progress over time.
The insights generated by the index support initiatives that encourage girls and women to pursue STEM education, develop digital competencies, and advance into leadership positions within the technology sector.
Explore the index here.
Digital skills resource details
The Women in Digital Index is a data-driven snapshot of how women progress from STEM learning to ICT leadership across the EU and selected benchmark countries.
It follows a pipeline approach, tracking women from STEM education to leadership, recognising that barriers exist at every stage.
We have identified the four key phases of the pipeline journey and the key stages along the way with a measure of the time to impact of any intervention to investment. These are:
- STEM- Ensuring the equal interest, participation and performance of girls in STEM subjects at primary and secondary education; Stages: Primary School, Secondary School; Time to impact: Long-term
- ICT- Participation of women in higher education and training in ICT subjects and related fields; Stages: Undergraduate, Masters, Traineeships, Apprenticeships; Time to impact: Medium-term
- DIGITAL- Transition of women from ICT related qualifications to technical roles and remaining in such roles as they progress through their early and middle stages of career. Stages: PhD, Entry-level positions, Mid-level, Time to impact: Short-term
- LEADERSHIP- Achieving visible leadership within organisations as directors of units and managing director roles. Stages: Director; Time to impact: Medium-term
