[Canada] Tech gender pay gap nearly tripled since 2016

According to new research, Canada’s tech industry has reversed course over recent years when it comes to progress in reaching gender wage equality, HRD reports.

Researchers from The Dais at the Toronto Metropolitan University have revealed that the gender pay gap in Canada’s tech workforce has nearly tripled since 2016.

Men in the Canadian tech sector reportedly earned $20,000 more than women annually, on average, researchers said. Citing the latest Census data, they added that men earned $7,200 more than women in 2016.

In addition, women continue to be underrepresented in the industry. While 7 per cent of men working in Canada are engaged in tech work, only 2.1 per cent of women working in Canada are in tech jobs. 

Overall, 40 per cent of female professionals in North America say they are underpaid, compared with just 24 per cent of male respondents, previous data from Robert Walters showed.

The participation rate for women reportedly remains identical to the figure for 2016, while men’s participation rate has dropped from 7.8 per cent.

Women now comprise 22.1 per cent of tech workers earning income, up from 20 per cent in 2016.

“This is still significantly lower than the 49.4 per cent of all workers who are women, and at this rate of change, it would take nearly 100 years for the gap to completely close,” The Dais’ researchers said.

The share of women working in tech (32 per cent) is now lower than in 1984, when it stood at 35 per cent, according to a previous report by Techopedia.

The Dais pointed out that visible minorities are also not getting their due from the industry.

Despite being more likely to hold tech jobs, workers from visible minorities are underpaid compared to non-visible minorities. Overall, 6.6 per cent of workers in Canada with a visible-minority identity reportedly work in tech, compared to 3.8 per cent of non-visible minorities. Yet those with visible-minority identities earn an average of just $78,800 a year compared to $93,000 for non-visible minorities.

Source: HRD

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

According to new research, Canada’s tech industry has reversed course over recent years when it comes to progress in reaching gender wage equality, HRD reports.

Researchers from The Dais at the Toronto Metropolitan University have revealed that the gender pay gap in Canada’s tech workforce has nearly tripled since 2016.

Men in the Canadian tech sector reportedly earned $20,000 more than women annually, on average, researchers said. Citing the latest Census data, they added that men earned $7,200 more than women in 2016.

In addition, women continue to be underrepresented in the industry. While 7 per cent of men working in Canada are engaged in tech work, only 2.1 per cent of women working in Canada are in tech jobs. 

Overall, 40 per cent of female professionals in North America say they are underpaid, compared with just 24 per cent of male respondents, previous data from Robert Walters showed.

The participation rate for women reportedly remains identical to the figure for 2016, while men’s participation rate has dropped from 7.8 per cent.

Women now comprise 22.1 per cent of tech workers earning income, up from 20 per cent in 2016.

“This is still significantly lower than the 49.4 per cent of all workers who are women, and at this rate of change, it would take nearly 100 years for the gap to completely close,” The Dais’ researchers said.

The share of women working in tech (32 per cent) is now lower than in 1984, when it stood at 35 per cent, according to a previous report by Techopedia.

The Dais pointed out that visible minorities are also not getting their due from the industry.

Despite being more likely to hold tech jobs, workers from visible minorities are underpaid compared to non-visible minorities. Overall, 6.6 per cent of workers in Canada with a visible-minority identity reportedly work in tech, compared to 3.8 per cent of non-visible minorities. Yet those with visible-minority identities earn an average of just $78,800 a year compared to $93,000 for non-visible minorities.

Source: HRD

(Links and quotes via original reporting)