Research by global data and AI recruitment specialists Harnham Group, demonstrates how badly diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI has) stalled in the tech industry.

The survey of over 3,500 data and AI professionals globally revealed that 31% of data professionals are female – a 2% increase from 2023. But marking a mere 1% increase over the last four years – up from 30% in 2020.

Further, on average, male respondents earned 18% more than their female counterparts.

Just 8% of respondents report working for a company with diversity initiatives – 65% of respondents were white and 6% identified as disabled.

Waseem Ali, CEO of Rockborne, a programme focused on bringing diverse talent into the data industry,  believes that this is a clear reflection of firms shelving DEI, commenting: “Not only is the industry facing a debilitating talent crisis (there is an estimated shortfall of over 173,000 workers in the UK STEM sector) but in a field so reliant on innovation, a lack of diverse perspectives could be disastrous to its future.”

“For instance whilst we all have biases, if the teams that are developing data and AI strategies are not balanced, there is a danger that this could be reflected in the development and design of the technology.”

Tech Talent Charter (TTC) Dissolves Amid Decreasing D&I Efforts

Back in June the TTC – a UK non-profit set up to improve diversity and inclusion efforts across the tech sector – announced that it was closing after nine years, citing the sidelining of diversity initiatives and falling budgets.

Representing nearly a quarter of a million UK tech workers, the TTC ceased operations this month.

Over 800 tech employers are signatories of the TTC’s goals, and the non-profit has worked closely with tech employers to promote diversity and inclusion initiatives across the UK.

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In an open letter to members, the TTC said that many companies are ‘quiet quitting’ their diversity and inclusion efforts.

“Increasingly, D&I (diversity and inclusion) initiatives are performative at best – and a fig leaf for poor behavior at worst,” the open letter read.

The TTC also said that D&I budgets are consistently squeezed, and even cut entirely in some cases.

As more concerns and issues come to the forefront, the TTC has seen D&I leaders being tasked with managing not only diversity efforts, but ESG efforts as well: “so your budgets are shrinking, and your scope is increasing.”

The non-profit also cited a “very worrying” trend in the rise of anti-‘woke’ backlash surrounding D&I efforts, as well as fatigue from corporations.