Bengaluru: Nearly half of women working in the technology sector have experienced gender discrimination in the workplace, while three-fourths of tech professionals say employee retention remains a concern for their organisations, according to a new ISACA survey released on October 15.
The 2026 Tech Workplace and Culture survey found that 47% of women in technology have faced gender discrimination, marking a five-percentage-point increase from 2024. The findings highlight persistent gender disparities in workplace culture, career advancement, job security and decision-making.
The survey also revealed a significant gap between men and women in their perceptions of the workplace. Only 52% of women expressed satisfaction with workplace culture, compared with 65% of men. Satisfaction with job security stood at 59% among women, against 69% among men, while 67% of women felt satisfied with their career progression, compared with 73% of men.
Gender representation and decision-making authority remain additional concerns. Around 63% of women respondents believe women continue to be underrepresented in the technology sector, compared with 41% of men. Furthermore, only 53% of women said they had sufficient authority to contribute to their organisation’s strategy and direction, against 66% of men.
The findings also point to growing concerns about workplace stress. Nearly 64% of women in tech reported experiencing work-related stress or burnout, compared with 57% of men.
Unclear Career Growth and Workplace Pressure
The survey identified unclear career progression as the biggest barrier to professional advancement, cited by 34% of respondents overall. The proportion rose to 41% among women, suggesting that career development remains a particular challenge for female professionals.
Heavy workloads were identified as the leading contributor to work-related stress and burnout, cited by 48% of respondents. Other major factors included a lack of resources (43%), unsupportive management (42%) and insufficient appreciation for employees’ work (40%).
However, workplace support for mental well-being appears limited. Only 25% of employers reportedly offer mental health days, while 23% of respondents said they were unclear about the support initiatives available in their organisations.
Three-Fourths of Employers Concerned About Talent Retention
Employee retention has emerged as a wider challenge across the technology industry, with 75% of respondents describing it as a significant or moderate concern for their organisations.
Among professionals who changed jobs in the past two years, better career prospects were the most frequently cited reason for leaving, at 29%. Higher compensation or salary followed at 28%. More interesting work, better organisational culture and improved work-life balance were each cited by 23% of respondents.
Commenting on the findings, Julia Kanouse, ISACA’s chief membership officer and head of the ISACA Foundation, said employers need to look beyond salaries to attract and retain skilled technology professionals.
She highlighted the importance of addressing burnout, establishing clear career growth opportunities, maintaining workplace flexibility and ensuring that all employees have equitable opportunities to contribute and advance.
Mentorship and Representation Seen as Key to Change
Despite the challenges, the survey found optimism about the future representation of women in technology. Around 71% of both male and female respondents expect more women to enter the sector over the next five years.
Respondents also identified several measures that could encourage greater participation. About 65% said educational institutions should provide women with more female mentors and role models. Another 48% supported women’s technology clubs and networking organisations, while 40% called for more women to be appointed as technology professors.
Deepa Seshadri, Partner and CIO Program Leader at Deloitte India and a member of the ISACA Emerging Trends Working Group, emphasised the importance of early intervention to create a more inclusive technology workforce.
She said organisations need to address burnout, strengthen career pathways, improve flexibility and create more equitable workplace experiences to attract and retain women in technology.
The findings underline the need for sustained efforts to improve workplace culture and representation, particularly as demand for technology and cybersecurity professionals continues to grow.
ISACA’s SheLeadsTech initiative seeks to support women entering and progressing in technology and cybersecurity careers. The organisation has also made its 2026 Tech Workplace and Culture survey report available at www.isaca.org/tech-workplace-and-culture.
