Specifically, the report shows that just 3% of tech employees are neurodivergent, compared to an estimated 15-20% of the broader population, according to employers.
Conversely, another poll of UK tech workers, also conducted by the TTC and published in the report, found that more than half of tech workers identify as neurodiverse when asked directly. The technology industry’s diversity self-identification process has been shown to be flawed.
“With 68% of employers measuring the neurodiversity of their employees, we can expect increased awareness of neurodiversity in business, but this progress will only happen if we promote neurodiversity. “It only makes sense if you create a work environment that is actually supportive and not nuisance,” he said. Karen Blake, co-CEO of Tech Talent Charter, said:
“Only 69% of neurodivergent men and 50% of neurodivergent women tell their line managers about their neurodivergentness. So companies are clearly making sure that employees are aware of their neurodivergence. You need to work on building a trusting relationship with your employees so that they can uncover any divergence and receive accommodation and support.” ”
In the TTC’s annual report, over 700 UK organizations share their diversity data, providing candid insights into the UK’s tech economy. The program is sponsored by companies including Global, HP, Lloyds Banking Group, Nominet, PwC, Sky and BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, and draws on a sample of 230,000 UK technology employees. , also supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The report also reveals additional statistics on several other diversity areas, such as disability in the technology industry, which is 23% compared to 6% of the workforce. Socioeconomic diversity is 9% compared to her 39% of the UK population. Transgender representation in the tech industry is 0.17%. Gender and ethnic diversity in software engineering is 20% and 22%, respectively. Gender and ethnic diversity in senior technical roles is 21% and 14%, respectively.
Despite these significantly low diversity metrics, the TTC warns that companies are defunding D&I efforts, a trend that will only exacerbate these problems.
“Companies are abandoning D&I efforts due to tough economic conditions. Unfortunately, abandoning D&I will only negatively impact productivity and performance in the long run,” says Blake. added.
“More worryingly, we are seeing a trend of well-funded companies moving away from the D&I space, which could generate troubling headlines. Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that companies are increasingly moving away from economic climate. is used as a convenient excuse to shelve D&I efforts that could expose them to public criticism, which is impossible to avoid in a highly polarized society. It shows a failure of leadership to tackle the biggest challenges”
On a more positive note, the percentage of women in the tech industry tracked by TTC for the past four years has reached a new high of 29%, but as companies spend less money on D&I, This progress is expected to decline as the The number of women in senior technical roles has decreased compared to last year.
“Technology plays a key role in driving growth and creating jobs across the country. But as this important report reveals, our technology sector does not reflect the UK as a whole. We must work together to solve this,” said Saquib Bhatti, Minister of Technology and Digital Economy.