High-tech gender gap persists despite surge in female students
More women are studying high-tech subjects, but representation in the workforce and leadership remains stagnant.
The proportion of women in Israel’s high-tech industry has remained stagnant, despite a doubling in the number of female students studying high-tech subjects in higher education institutions over the past decade, according to a new report by the Innovation Authority. The report highlights a troubling reality: while the number of women employed in the industry has increased by 65% over the past decade—reaching approximately 130,000 professionals—they still account for only 33.5% of all high-tech jobs, a figure that has not changed significantly in three decades.
Moreover, the high-tech sector has matured significantly in recent years, producing generations of experienced entrepreneurs and executives, many of whom are now founding and managing their second or third companies. However, female representation in senior management, entrepreneurship, and venture capital remains strikingly low. Women hold only 17% of senior management positions in private high-tech companies and 24.3% of management roles in public companies, while just 10% serve as CEOs of startups.
The report also reveals disparities in female representation across different high-tech fields. Women are most prevalent in enterprise software and life sciences companies, where they make up 38% of the workforce. In contrast, they are least represented in communications and semiconductor companies, where they constitute just 21% of employees.
When it comes to funding, women-led startups face even greater challenges. According to the report, only 4.3% of all capital raised in recent years went to companies managed by women. The Innovation Authority notes that the funding gap is most pronounced in rounds exceeding $50 million. Additionally, 40% of venture capital firms operating in Israel do not have a single female partner.
Although more women are pursuing high-tech studies, a major obstacle remains: the stark educational gap between Israel’s central region and its periphery. The report classifies even large cities such as Haifa and Jerusalem as part of the periphery. In Tel Aviv and the Central District, the rate of students taking the advanced 5-unit computer science matriculation exam is three times higher than in Jerusalem, twice as high as in the Southern District, and 50% higher than in the Northern District and Haifa. While the number of students taking this exam has risen significantly in central Israel, the growth in the periphery has been much slower. As a result, inequality is expected to widen further, ultimately impacting the high-tech workforce.
Despite these challenges, there has been progress. The proportion of female students in high-tech-related academic programs has risen from 24% in 2012 to 32% in 2023—a notable improvement, though still far from parity. The greatest growth has been in research and development (R&D): the number of women in R&D roles has increased by 140% over the past decade. However, women still make up only 26.5% of the R&D workforce, compared to 23% a decade ago.
Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, emphasized the need for government intervention to drive real change. "We must continue working to create equal opportunities for women in high-tech—from expanding education and training programs to advancing women into management positions and encouraging female entrepreneurship," Bin said. "Only a broad and sustained effort involving both the government and the industry can bring about meaningful change."
Industry leaders were not surprised by the report’s findings. Nofar Amikam, managing partner at Glilot Capital, acknowledged the persistent gender gap but expressed cautious optimism. "The number of leading women in the high-tech world is still low and needs improvement, but the trend is positive," she said. "CEOs must understand that female leadership is not just a matter of gender equality—it is a strategic asset for organizations. Studies show that women contribute diversity of thought, innovation, and better decision-making."
While high-tech companies cannot directly reform the education system, they can play a role in fostering a more inclusive industry. "Companies should actively promote an egalitarian organizational culture by supporting internal programs to advance women and giving them opportunities to lead key projects," Amikam added.
