The Fruit Of Our Labor

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As the crisp air of fall arrives and the leaves begin to change, nature reminds us that there is a season for everything—a time to plant, a time to grow, and a time to harvest. But what happens when the harvest doesn’t yield the fruit we worked for? What if, after months of sowing seeds, the ground doesn’t return what it owes? This is the harsh reality faced by countless women in the tech industry, where the fruit of their labor often falls short of their expectations. The gender pay gap and systemic inequality remain persistent issues in the tech world, hindering not just the progress of individual women but the growth of an entire industry.

 

The 2024 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) tells us that we still have a long way to go. According to the report, it will take another 131 years to close the global gender gap at the current rate of progress. For women in tech, the numbers are even more stark. The gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields remains vast, with women earning, on average, significantly less than their male counterparts.

In the United States, for example, women in tech earn an average of $85,000 annually, compared to $100,000 for men, according to a report by CIO.com. The pay gap is even more disheartening when considering that women are still dramatically underrepresented in the field, making up only 26.7% of the tech workforce.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The disparity in pay and opportunities is like an orchard in Fall where some trees bear fruit and others, despite equal care, yield less. Women and men may enter the tech workforce with similar qualifications, ambitions, and potential, yet women often find themselves with fewer opportunities, lower pay, and a slower climb up the corporate ladder.

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The disparity in pay and recognition is not just a missed opportunity for women—it’s a loss for the entire field. The fruits of innovation and progress rot on the vine when half the workforce is underrepresented and undervalued. A study by Accenture and Girls Who Code revealed that 50% of women in tech leave the industry by the age of 35, a statistic that should sound alarms across every tech organization. If tech continues to shut out diverse perspectives, particularly those of women, the industry risks leaving the best ideas and important innovations unrealized.

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According to CIO.com, a major factor driving women out of the field is the unequal access to leadership roles and mentorship opportunities. Only 16% of senior leadership roles in tech are filled by women, creating a persistent glass ceiling that hinders both professional growth and the larger industry’s progress. If women are not given the support and recognition they deserve, their talent and potential are wasted, much like a harvest that is left to fallow.

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But this moment of reflection also brings hope. Fall is not just a season of endings, but also a time for preparation and renewal. There is still time to act, to replant and reshape the industry so that its future harvest is rich and abundant. Addressing the gender pay gap is not merely a matter of fairness; it is essential for fostering innovation and driving economic growth. According to the WEF, if we can close the gender gap, global GDP could increase by $12 trillion by 2030. This is the fruit we stand to gain if we nurture the talents and contributions of all individuals equally.

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The tech industry’s future depends on how it chooses to treat the seeds of today’s workforce. Will it continue to favor certain trees over others, limiting the yield of the harvest? Or will it embrace a more equitable approach, ensuring that everyone reaps the rewards of their labor?

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The time to act is now, before the leaves fall and the opportunity is lost. If we don’t tend to the gender inequalities in tech, the harvest we hope for—a more innovative, diverse, and prosperous industry—may never fully come to fruition. The work ahead is hard, but the fruit of our labor, if done right, could change everything.

 

For more data on the gender pay gap in tech, read the full report from CIO.com here and the 2024 WEF Gender Gap Report here.