According to the Softex Observatory, to achieve gender parity in the IT sector by 2030, it would be necessary to incorporate 53,500 new women per year.
Gender equality in technology is advancing slowly in Brazil. According to data from the fourth edition of the W-Tech 2025 study, produced by... Softex Observatory, According to the research and strategic intelligence unit focused on supporting the formulation of public policies for ICTs, women represent only 19.21% of IT specialists in the country, approximately 89,700 professionals compared to almost 470,000 in the workforce.
Using data from official sources, the survey provides an analysis of female representation in the industry, the profile of IT professionals working in this sector in Brazil, challenges and opportunities; policy recommendations for education, promotion and regulation; as well as projections and goals for the country to achieve gender parity in the coming decades.
Although women account for 51.51% of the Brazilian population and 44.7% of formal employment, they remain underrepresented in technical and strategic roles in a sector essential to the digital economy.
Inequality is already evident in education. Only 17.81% of IT graduates are women, a timid increase of 1.31% in a decade. Even with higher levels of education (63.71% of them have completed higher education, compared to 51.11% of men), female professionals receive, on average, R$1,618 less per month, representing a salary difference of 19.31%. The scenario worsens in technical roles: female programmers earn 25% less and female technologists, 29% less.
The gap widens in leadership positions. Women occupy 26.21% of management positions and only 13.11% of director positions, a proportion lower than that observed in 2015. Regional and racial inequality reinforces the abyss: in states like Roraima, Amapá, and Maranhão, less than 10% of IT specialists are women. In total, 59.6% of professionals are white, while black and mixed-race women account for 28.4%; and only 5.5% of specialists are black women.
Opportunities in AI, cybersecurity, and the digital green economy.
The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 estimates that it will take the world 123 years to achieve full parity between men and women. In Brazil, the index of female participation and economic opportunity has fallen to 66.2%, placing the country in 96th position worldwide. According to the Softex Observatory, to achieve gender parity in the IT sector by 2030, it would be necessary to incorporate 53,500 new women per year. If the current pace is maintained, balance would only be achieved around 2110.
Despite the challenging scenario, there are signs of transformation. Women already represent 29.81% of graduates in Artificial Intelligence courses, a rate higher than the global average of 22%. In cybersecurity, they account for 17% of the workforce, and in the digital green economy, 28% of the jobs. These numbers show that, when there is encouragement, support, and visibility, progress is possible and sustainable.
Diversity, therefore, is not just a matter of social justice, but also of strategy and competitiveness. Correcting the gender imbalance in the ICT sector has the potential to increase productivity, innovation, and the achievement of global goals such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which promotes gender equality, and target 8.5.1, to ensure decent work and equal pay for work of equal value by 2030.
7 policy recommendations for education, promotion and regulation
The study proposes seven integrated guidelines for government, businesses, and educational institutions to promote real progress: diagnosing the entry, dropout, and advancement points for women in education and the job market; agreeing on public commitments with clear goals and semi-annual reports; monitoring transparently through open data and standardized indicators; implementing diversity policies in procurement and innovation programs; offering tax and economic incentives linked to reducing inequalities; supporting parenthood and return to work, especially among women aged 35 to 40; and holding companies and institutions accountable for meeting the goals, with annual reviews and social participation.
These measures, combined with education, employment, and innovation policies, can transform the current scenario. According to the Softex Observatory, the incorporation of 15,600 women per year would be sufficient for Brazil to achieve parity in the sector only in 2110.
“Diversity is the driving force behind the future of our sector. It’s not enough to talk about innovation without talking about inclusion. We need permanent policies, clear metrics, and real commitment from all stakeholders – government, businesses, and academia – to ensure that women are at the heart of Brazil’s digital transformation,” says Rayanny Nunes, Coordinator of Intelligence and Solutions Design at Softex.
Download the complete content of the fourth edition of “W-Tech” by accessing https://softex.br/observatorio-softex/
About Softex
Based in Brasília, Softex has been working for over 20 years in the design and management of international impact programs and coordinates the Softex System, composed of 21 regional agents distributed across 13 Brazilian states and the Federal District. The organization has 22 accredited ICTs and 19 partner accelerators, benefiting approximately 4,000 startups and over 6,000 companies. Softex works in partnership with the private sector and governments at the federal, state, and municipal levels, academic centers, and funding institutions. In these more than two decades of activity, it has established itself as the leading Brazilian institution capable of connecting actors from all three spheres – Government, Academia, and the Private Sector – to drive Brazil's development through innovation and Digital Transformation. To evolve throughout all these years, Softex constantly reinvents itself, an effort that translates into a series of achievements involving support, development, promotion, and funding initiatives. Its portfolio of projects includes, among others, the StartUp Brasil, Inova Maranhão, TechD, Brasil Mais TI, Conexão Startup Brasil, Brasil IT+, and MPS.BR programs. For more information, visit [website address - not provided in the original text]. www.softex.br.Follow the organization on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
