A new report released by the Israel Innovation Authority and the Aaron Institute for Economic Policy at Reichman University, in observance of International Women's Day, details the progress and challenges of women in research and development (R&D) roles within the Israeli tech sector.
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The study shows a noteworthy 130% increase in women's participation in R&D over the last decade, with nearly 40% of women in the tech industry now holding such positions. This marks a rise from 28% in 2013 to 38% in 2023, achieving an annual growth rate of 2.7%, on par with their male counterparts.
Despite these gains, women's representation in the high-tech sector remains below the National High-Tech Human Capital Committee's 2035 goal of 43%, especially among Jewish women (excluding the ultra-Orthodox), with a shortfall of around 80,000 positions. Additionally, the report points to a decline in women's roles in administrative and business development, dropping by 18% from 50.7% in 2014 to 41.4% in 2024, highlighting the need for targeted initiatives to achieve gender balance across the industry's various sectors.
CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority Dror Bin said, "The tech sector has been at the forefront of the Israeli economy for many years, but there is still a way to go regarding gender equality. We see more women in core roles, but the growth rate is insufficient to reach gender parity goals. In 2023, about 3,500 positions were added for women in tech compared to about 6,700 positions for men. To bring about change, there must be a concerted long-term effort by the tech industry and relevant government entities to continue breaking the glass ceiling for women earlier in their career."
