UK Losing 3.5bn a Year as Women Exit Tech Sector, Warns 2025 Lovelace Report

"The 2025 Lovelace Report: Unlocking £2-3.5 Billion, published on Tuesday, reveals that between 40,000 and 60,000 women are quitting the industry annually - an exodus that experts warn is undermining the country's ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital innovation. Despite making up just 20% of the tech workforce, women are leaving at twice the rate of men, with the losses hitting hardest among mid-career professionals who should form the backbone of Britain's digital economy."

"Although 90% of women in the sector say they want to lead, only one in four believe they can, citing a lack of sponsorship, opaque promotion pathways, and workplace cultures that undervalue women's contributions. The report estimates an annual cost of £1.4-2.2 billion in lost productivity from women leaving tech, and a further £640 million-1.3 billion from turnover as women move between employers in search of better pay or opportunity."

Between 40,000 and 60,000 women leave the UK technology sector each year, producing an annual economic loss of up to £3.5 billion. Women make up roughly 20% of the tech workforce but exit at twice the rate of men, with mid-career professionals most affected. Many women with 11–20 years' experience report waiting over three years for promotion, and half earn below-average pay for their seniority. Although 90% of women say they want to lead, only one in four believe they can due to lack of sponsorship, opaque promotion pathways and cultures that undervalue their contributions. Lost productivity and turnover costs total an estimated £2.04–3.5 billion annually. Women are 14–22% more likely than men to experience digital poverty, limiting access to tools, connectivity and digital literacy.

Read at Business Matters