The majority (87%) of IT professionals agree that there is a lack of gender diversity in the sector, yet less than half (41%) of businesses have programs in place to hire more women, according to new research from ISACA, a professional association helping individuals advance their careers in digital trust fields.

This is despite the fact that ISACA’s Tech Workplace and Culture report, which surveyed 7,726 tech professionals around the globe, found that 74% of businesses also saying that attracting and retaining talent is a challenge.

When looking at why women are still underrepresented in tech roles, 43% of female respondents (and 21% of men) say it is because most IT role models and leaders are male. The next biggest culprit was pay inequality, according to 42% of women—but only 15% of men—who responded.

Overall, men tend to rate their sense of authority in specific areas of their current role more highly, whereas women tend to give lower ratings. The gap between men and women’s perceptions of authority are the largest for making purchasing decisions (13% point gap) and contributing to the company strategy and direction (10% point gap).

“More needs to be done to increase the representation of women in the IT and technology sector – and more needs to be done to welcome their leadership and influence,” says Julia Kanouse, who serves as Chief Membership Officer at ISACA and oversees the association’s SheLeadsTech program.

“This will not only help to address the global skills gap and boost productivity in the sector—it will also create a more inclusive and diverse working environment.”

Survey respondents believe educational institutions play a critical role in driving gender inclusion in tech. Key recommendations include providing mentors or role models (52%), establishing tech clubs or networking organisations for women (42%), and hiring more female tech professors (31%).

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These steps are seen as vital to fostering a more inclusive environment and inspiring the next generation of women in technology.

Sixty-eight percent of women and 72% of men indicate they are extremely or very satisfied with their career progression. Additionally, 73% of women and 71% of men say they have received a salary increase and/or promotion in the last two years.

Sarah Orton, UK and Europe lead for ISACA’s SheLeadsTech initiative, said: “Encouragingly, women have near-equal career progression satisfaction to their male counterparts and are slightly more likely to have received a raise or a promotion in the last two years.

“Having a workforce of people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to bring to the table is not only the right thing to do – it’s also a business imperative that makes an organisation more innovative and it’s work that much more efficient and effective. Progress has been made – but the sector has more work to do, and ISACA is supporting this important work.”