Impact Analysis: Advancing Women in the Digital Economy

Today, gender equity is recognized as both a moral imperative and a critical driver of business success, serving as a catalyst for sustained economic growth. Despite proven economic and strategic advantages associated with gender diversity, women remain underrepresented in Canada's digital economy. While women represent nearly half (48%) of the Canadian workforce, data from 2023 reveals that they comprise only 34.8% of individuals employed in Canada's digital economy. Furthermore, women tend to be largely represented in entry- to mid-level roles and less so in management and senior levels. This disparity is particularly pronounced in tech leadership roles. Across the general economy, women hold 37% of management positions, and this figure drops to 30% for executive and senior management roles. Within the ICT (tech) sector specifically, the percentage of women in executive and senior management roles is just 9%.

ICTC’s recent research highlights actionable solutions that individuals, organizations, and ecosystem-level players can take to address systemic challenges and advance women in the digital economy. Building upon this research, ICTC has tested actionable solutions with Canadian organizations. This report showcases, through individual case studies, the efficacy and impact of implementing solutions in real-world organizational settings.