On November 10, the HR Tech Group announced the release of their 2021 Diversity in Tech Dashboard, one of several initiatives stemming from the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Tech Project, launched in 2019 with funding from the Province of BC. The Diversity in Tech Dashboard reports year-over-year progress on representation of equity-deserving groups in the BC tech sector. The project aims to improve the attraction, retention and advancement of women, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people of colour, newcomers to Canada, and individuals who identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+ in skilled technology occupations throughout the province.

In 2021, 171 tech employers participated in the Diversity in Tech Dashboard survey, providing industry-wide data on DE&I policies and practices and employee representation. Now in its second year, participation in this year’s survey was up by approximately 27%, from 134 employers in 2020. This year, 38% of participating organizations reported already having company-wide DE&I goals in place, with an additional 43% considering or currently working on goal-setting.

“It’s wonderful to see the enormous lift in participation levels this year, and we’re pleased to be able to provide valuable data and insights that highlight the importance of measuring representation within BC’s technology sector,” Said Stephanie Hollingshead, CEO, HR Tech Group. “Tech companies have struggled to build strong representation of equity-deserving populations across the province. It’s essential that we invest in the recruitment and development of diverse perspectives to meet the needs of this rapidly growing sector. In order to do this, we first need to understand where our gaps are in terms of representation.”

Key findings related to how employees self-identify*:

• 8.3% of employees self-identified as 2SLGBTQQIA+
• 2.9% representation of people with disabilities (apparent or non-apparent)
• 0.7% representation of Indigenous peoples in BC’s tech sector

* Based on survey results
“Supporting more Indigenous, Black, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+, youth, and women enter the tech industry is a critical part of our work to build an inclusive and sustainable economy for everyone,” said Brenda Bailey, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation. “Our government is committed to removing obstacles facing people from underrepresented communities, so that we can better support our growing tech sector with a workforce that represents the diversity of our province.”

Key findings related to employee reporting on their gender identity*:

• 66.6% self-identify as a man
• 33.2% self-identify as a woman
• 0.2% self-identify as non-binary or other
• 81% of the roles in human resources and 76% of the roles in administration are filled by women
• 23% of the roles in technology, design & support and manufacturing are filled by women
• 31% of executive level roles are filled by women

* Based on survey results