Closing in on the ICT gender gap: younger women account for a growing share of the ICT workforce

The share of women in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, and other ICT-related professions in Germany has risen across almost all age groups between 2015 and 2025, according to Tech2Stay's data special. 

At the same time, the extent of this "trend" varies significantly depending on age. Large-scale increases in women's ratio was recorded primarily for the age groups of 25-35 and 35-45, whilst changes in other age groups appeared more moderate. 

Young women's share of total IT workers is growing: zooming in on comparative data across age groups

Tech2Stay's latest data special finds that in 2025, women, who were younger or middle-aged performed better than other age groups: during the time frame studied by the data special, there were 75,170 women aged 25 to 35, who worked in ICT. They accounted for 22,3% of all employees in that age group. 

Around 64,000 women were counted in the 35-45 age group, making up a total of 19,1%, or one-fifth, of all IT employees. The data special finds that as age increases, the share of women in the ICT workforce diminishes: amongst those 45 to under 55, the proportion of women was around 16,2% and around 16,6% for women in the 55 to 65 age group.  

Differences across IT occupations: which specialisations in IT attract most women? 

A consistent pattern also emerges in 2025 when examining individual IT occupational groups: in all four occupational groups studied, those aged 25 to under 35 had the highest proportion of women. At just under 30%, the proportion in this age group was highest in the field of ‘IT systems analysis, user consultancy, IT sales’. In ‘Computer Science’, it stood at 22,6%; in ‘IT Network Technology, Coordination, Administration and Organisation’, 22,1%; and in ‘Software Development and Programming’, 17,4%.

Those aged between 35 and under 45 had the second-highest proportion of women across all four occupational groups. In ‘IT systems analysis, user consultancy and IT sales’, this stood at around 25%, whilst in ‘software development and programming’ it was 13,9%. 

About Tech2stay: empowering and retaining women in IT

‘Tech2stay – Empowering and Retaining Women in IT’ is a joint project between Heilbronn University, the Competence Centre for Technology, Diversity and Equal Opportunities (Kompetenzzentrum Technik-Diversity-Chancengleichheit e. V.) and the German Informatics Society (Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V.). The project investigates the reasons why female professionals leave the IT sector and, based on this, develops measures to encourage them to remain. The aim is to improve the framework conditions for women in IT in the long term.

It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

The Competence Center Technology Diversity Equal Opportunities e.V. is a member of the National Alliance Digital Competences for Work and Everyday Life.