Sydney, Nov 3: Acronis has released its 2025 Women in Tech Report, revealing that women in technology continue to face persistent barriers to career advancement, leadership roles, and work-life balance despite ongoing diversity efforts across the industry.
Titled “FOMO at Work: The Opportunity Gap Between Men and Women in Tech,” the global survey gathered responses from more than 650 IT professionals across eight countries, highlighting stark differences between men’s and women’s perceptions of equality in tech workplaces.
The findings show that only 60 percent of women believe men and women have equal access to career development, compared with 75 percent of men. Similarly, 63 percent of women say work-life balance challenges significantly hinder their career progression, while just under half of men agree.
The study also found that 67 percent of women feel they must work longer hours to advance, and over half report concerns about missing key career opportunities due to family responsibilities — a phenomenon the report labels “FOMO at work.”
Bias remains a major obstacle, with 41 percent of women citing stereotypes as a barrier to starting or advancing in cybersecurity roles. Leadership remains another hurdle: 41 percent of women and 36 percent of men see bias as a key barrier to women’s leadership advancement, while 70 percent of women say leadership development programs tailored to women are essential.
“Our new survey findings shine a spotlight on just how differently men and women experience working in the tech industry,” said Alona Geckler, SVP Business Operations and Chief of Staff at Acronis. “Closing the gender gap requires more than good intentions. Organizations must recognize these disparities and design programs that expand leadership opportunities, confront bias head-on, and create environments where work-life balance doesn’t present any barriers that may potentially derail women’s careers.”
The report emphasizes that while awareness has improved, systemic inequalities remain entrenched in workplace culture. Women continue to see the value of targeted initiatives like mentorship and leadership training, while men tend to underestimate the impact of these structural barriers.
“This report highlights the critical need for companies to listen more closely to women’s experiences in technology career paths,” said Melyssa Banda, Senior Vice President, Edge Storage and Services at Seagate Technology. “For companies across the tech sector, highlighting women role models, addressing bias directly, and fostering inclusive cultures can benefit the entire industry. The opportunity now is to turn these insights into action that can drive innovation and create a workplace where everyone can thrive.”
Building on its 2024 report, “The New FOMO: Females Fear Missing Opportunities in IT,” this year’s edition expands its scope by including men for comparative insight and doubling its respondent base. The study reinforces Acronis’ ongoing call for greater inclusivity and leadership representation, noting that women currently make up just 29 percent of the global tech workforce.
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