A new report shows a significant rise in women’s representation in Israeli Tech R&D positions. Almost 40% of employed women in the tech industry are currently involved in R&D roles, reflecting a substantial 130% increase over the past decade.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Israel Innovation Authority, in collaboration with the Aaron Institute for Economic Policy at Reichman University, released a report that sheds light on the evolving landscape of women in research and development (R&D) positions in the Israeli tech sector. The report reveals a significant increase in women’s engagement in R&D positions, while also highlighting key areas for improvement.
According to the report, almost 40% of employed women in the tech industry are currently involved in R&D roles, reflecting a substantial 130% increase over the past decade. In 2023, 38% of women in the tech industry held R&D positions, compared to around 28% in 2013, demonstrating a steady annual growth rate of 2.7%, similar to that of men.
However, despite these positive trends, women still only occupy a third of all high-tech positions, falling short of the 43% target set by the National High-Tech Human Capital Committee, known as the Perlmutter Committee, for 2035. This gap is particularly pronounced for Jewish women (non-ultra-Orthodox), with approximately 80,000 positions needed to meet the designated target.
Despite the slowdown in the tech industry over the past year due to the war and the legal reform, the growth rate for both women and men in the tech industry remains consistent at around 2.7%. However, the proportion of women in administrative and business development roles has decreased from 50.7% in 2014 to 41.4% in 2024, demonstrating an 18% decline in the last decade. The findings indicate a need for targeted interventions to ensure balanced representation across all sectors within the industry.
The Israeli tech industry’s trajectory mirrors global trends in gender representation, with women comprising approximately one-third of the workforce, aligning with countries like Poland, Germany, and France. Notably, while Sweden boasts leadership in international equality rankings, its proportion of women in tech lags behind Israel at 29%. Conversely, Estonia, a pioneer in digital transformation, showcases a relatively high proportion of women in tech at 40%. Meanwhile, in the United States, the figure stands at 36.5%.
Source and further details: Israel Innovation Authority