In Spain, the number of women seeking to enter the technology sector has grown significantly, yet the labor market is still slow to reflect these changes. For the country’s economy, this translates into missed opportunities and a slowdown in the development of digital professions. Despite women actively participating in educational programs, their share in technical specialties remains low, affecting employment structures and the growth prospects of the sector.
New faces in IT
In recent years, Barcelona and other cities across the country have seen a rise in the number of women choosing to study at technology schools and academies. One example is IT Academy, where the average student age is around 36, and more and more women are enrolling after deciding to change careers. Many made the switch to IT following the pandemic, when traditional sectors of employment faced uncertainties. According to El Pais, at a recent Talent Arena event held alongside Mobile World Congress, women made up 40% of all participants and speakers—a record high for such events in Spain.
However, despite these successes in the field of education, employers have yet to actively hire women for technical positions. According to the Ministry for Digital Transformation, only 19% of software developers in the country are women. The situation is slightly better in Barcelona: women make up a third of those in digital professions, but their presence in programming remains low.
Where women stand out
Women most often choose fields related to marketing, UX/UI design, and sustainable technologies. Their share in these areas reaches 54%, 44%, and 42% respectively. At the same time, in core technical professions such as software development and cybersecurity, the gap remains significant. Heads of educational programs note that the barriers are often not about actual skills, but rather about perceptions of the profession and internal doubts. Many women believe technical specialties are too difficult, although interest in them is growing every year.
Companies are starting to recognize the value of diversity in teams and are increasingly seeking women to work in IT. Some employers directly approach female participants at tech events to invite them for interviews. Clients are also increasingly demanding that teams feature specialists of different genders, considering it an advantage for solving complex problems.
Myths and changes
Experts emphasize that modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, allow people to start a career in IT without deep technical knowledge. This lowers the entry barrier and makes the profession more accessible for women who previously did not consider this path. Educational centers note that interest in cybersecurity and data analytics is growing among women, while old stereotypes are gradually losing their strength.
Nevertheless, the road to equality in the technology sector remains long. Women already working in IT report positive changes, but emphasize that true parity is still a distant goal. In Spain, efforts continue to find solutions that will help close the gap and make the labor market more accessible to everyone.
In recent years, initiatives aimed at attracting women to digital professions have been regularly held across Europe and Spain. For example, free programming courses for women have opened in Madrid and Valencia, and major tech companies are launching special internship programs. In 2025, Barcelona hosted a forum where best practices for supporting female leadership in IT were discussed. Despite ongoing challenges, experts note a growing interest in the topic, and the number of women in tech teams is gradually increasing.
