Gender equality – the key to future tech skills 

Progress towards a more gender-equal tech industry is being made, but the pace needs to increase. In connection with International Women's Day, TechSverige is raising the issue of gender equality, working conditions and the future supply of skills together with Ana Andric, who works on these issues as an economic policy expert at TechSverige. 

"Equality is about making the most of the skills available in society as a whole. The tech industry is already an attractive employer, but if we don't succeed in attracting and retaining more women, we risk jeopardizing both our supply of skilled labor and our innovative capacity," says Ana Andric. 

Positive steps – but progress is slow 

According to the reportTechbranschen som arbetsgivare 2025(The Tech Industry as an Employer in 2025), the tech industry is one of the most attractive industries in Swedish business. Tech employers offer secure jobs and invest heavily in skills development, while sick leave in the industry is low. However, gender equality in the industry remains a challenge.  

Today, approximately one-third of employees are women, a proportion that has remained largely unchanged in recent years.  

"This shows that gender equality requires active and long-term efforts. It's about both who is attracted to the industry and the roles that women and men actually have. Those who start IT education today are the industry's employees of tomorrow. That's why developments in education are so crucial," says Ana Andric.  

And there are many indications that developments are moving in the right direction in the field of education. New figures compiled by TechSverige in collaboration with Statistics Sweden show that33 percent of those who began IT education at the post-secondary level in 2024 were women—the highest proportion ever recorded. Since 2016, the number of women starting IT programs has increased by nearly62 percent, and the increase is evident in universities, vocational colleges, and postgraduate programs. 

"This is an important message of strength. More women are choosing IT than before, and this shows that targeted efforts, role models, and a more inclusive message make a difference," says Ana Andric. 

For TechSweden, the influx into education programs is crucial. The number of women who begin and complete IT education programs directly affects the industry's ability to recruit, grow, and build a more gender-equal tech industry over time. 

There are also several positive signs among companies. More and more tech companies have gender-balanced management teams, and around 40 percent of managers in the industry are women, which is a higher proportion than the overall representation of women. 

How TechSweden works 

Equality, inclusion, and diversity are priority issues for TechSweden and our member companies. This work involves both securing the supply of skills for the future and building a competitive and innovative tech industry that harnesses the skills of society as a whole. 

"To meet the tech industry's and society's overall need for tech skills, which is roughly 18,000 people per year until 2028, we need to get better at attracting and keeping more women. This is crucial both for the competitiveness of companies and for Sweden's capacity for innovation, says Ana Andric. 

TechSverige promotes gender equality on several levels, from early study and career choices to leadership and culture within companies. A key initiative isAddera tech, a campaign and knowledge platform that brings together inspiration, links, and concrete tips on education, professional roles, and paths into the tech industry. By highlighting role models and ambassadors who already work in tech, the breadth of career opportunities and the many different paths to a tech job are made visible. 

TechSverige has also developed achecklist for gender equality,which provides practical support in the day-to-day work of companies. The checklist brings together best practices and concrete measures for different roles—such as CEO, HR, managers, and communications—with a focus on encouraging more women to stay, develop, and take the next step in the tech industry. 

"It's often about basic things that we know work, but which risk being deprioritized in everyday life. The checklist is a way to make it easier for companies to turn ambitions into action," says Ana Andric. 

An important part of the work also concerns leadership. TechSverige has developedthe Tech Leadership Manifesto, which is aimed at leaders and decision-makers in the tech industry. The manifesto makes it clear that diversity and inclusion are an integral part of modern leadership and an attractive employer. Today, the manifesto has been signed by TechSweden's board and over a hundred business leaders in the tech industry. 

"At a time when these issues are being questioned in parts of the world, it is more important than ever for tech leaders to clearly show where they stand. We want to see more leaders in the industry take a stand and sign the Tech Leader Manifesto," says Ana Andric. 

As a tech leader, would you also like to sign the tech leader manifesto? You can do so here:Tech leadership – TechSverige