Two Thirds Of Hi-Tech Workers In Israel Are Men, Study Finds

By Ariel Grossman, NoCamels February 06, 2023 2 minutes

Women are still highly underrepresented in hi-tech. Courtesy Visual Tag Mx / Pexels

Israeli women are still underrepresented in startups – just 34 percent of the workforce – says a new report.

And even fewer of them hold management and R&D positions, according to the newly-published 2022 Diversity in startups report.

The report, which analyzed data from 650 active Israeli venture-backed companies, found the number of women in management positions had risen by just 0.6 percent from 2021.

Despite high demand for talent and extensive recruitment efforts in the first half of 2022, there have not been any significant changes in women’s employment.

It also found that Arabs represent only 0.2 percent of the startup industry, even though 16 percent of Israeli Arabs hold degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Israeli Arabs represent 20 percent of Israel’s population.

Only 0.4 percent of employees in startups are ultra-Orthodox, the majority of whom are women. They represent 13.5 percent of Israel’s population.

Numbers for Israeli Ethiopians, people with disabilities, and other groups are too low to allow accurate estimates.

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The study was compiled by Power in Diversity Israel, a joint venture of over 150 startups that promotes diversity in the Israel hi-tech sector.

Power in Diversity believes that in order for Israel to continue to serve as an international model for innovation, it is essential that the members of its hi-tech industry reflect the diverse world we live in.

CEO Shahar Silis said: “Especially these days, the discourse on inclusion, equality and acceptance should serve as a milestone in the conduct of all of us, especially companies in the high-tech industry, that is a source of innovation and progress.

“In the joint process of the initiative with the companies, we have repeatedly proven that a diversified company has a direct impact on profitability, growth and success.

“The companies that emphasize a healthy organizational culture are more stable companies that can deal with uncertainty more effectively. In the current climate, this is a significant advantage.

“Those who formulate a growth strategy based on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) tools and exposure to different populations will reap the rewards when the market recovers, and reach the next peak stronger.”