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A few years ago, I wrote an article examining the gender gap in technology in Pittsburgh based on the 2021 version of the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report (GGGR)1. In this article, I will re-examine the results of the 2023 GGGR2 and discuss how things have changed in the Pittsburgh Women in Tech landscape.
To be completely honest, the 2023 GGGR is grim. The US has slid from being ranked 30th on the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) to 43rd. “The Global Gender Gap Index benchmarks the evolution of gender-based gaps among four key dimensions (Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment) and tracks progress towards closing these gaps over time.2” Countries that are passing the US in the global gender gap closure include Mexico, Australia, Belarus, and Argentina. In addition to sliding down the GGGI scale, the total number of women in higher-level positions has been declining since its peak at 42% in 20212.
So, what about Pittsburgh? Are we still a tech hub, the land of opportunities, the steel city turned silicone? Things there are looking bad too. Pittsburgh jumped from 51st to 44th in the SmartAsset rankings of best cities for women in tech in 2022 (2023 version has not been released yet), however the percent of tech jobs filled by women decreased from 26% in 2021 to 25% in 20223. Additionally, the tech gender pay gap in Pittsburgh has increase by 5% in that same period3.
We have admittedly backslid a bit, estimates for the US to reach income parity are now around 95 years instead of 673, and we might all be lost to technological singularity by then, but for now, we focus on doing what we can to support each other. There are several local non-profit organizations that focus on women in tech (all descriptions are taken directly from each organizations about page):
getWITit- is a non-profit organization, with the specific mission of addressing the declining number of women in the information systems and computing industries, through programs that promote awareness, address attrition, create opportunities to transition to tech, and preparation for leadership.
WITI Pittsburgh- WITI's mission is in fostering relationships and community, cultivating professional growth and boosting competitiveness — to help realize individual and collective potential in the workforce across industries, worldwide.
RedChairPGH- RedChairPGH is a network of women and men who are committed to creating gender balance in the Pittsburgh technology professions. We believe diverse teams increase innovation, opportunity and organizational results.
Fortyx80’s L.A.U.N.C.H- The L.A.U.N.C.H. program transforms the natural curiosity of high school girls, in grades 10 and 11, into a voice of leadership in the STEM industry.
If you don't belong or participate in one of these organization, I suggest you try one! Personally, I am the co-director of technology for getWITit Pittsburgh, and I can personally attest to their networking events and happy hours. I have also been a mentor for the L.A.U.N.C.H program since its inception, and those girls really do give me hope for the future. The RedChairPGH meetings are always great too... Actually, you should probably try them all.
What else can we do to close the gender pay gap in Pittsburgh and nationally?... Well, more on that later, for now I think leadership should take a long hard look at these numbers and consider the real impact that they have on your employees and their lives.
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