Women in tech, labour market overview

There were 21.2 million women in the UK aged between 16 and 64 in 2023 - representing 51% of the ‘working age’ population at that time. Amongst women of this age group, 72% were in work, 25% were classed as ‘inactive’ and 3% were unemployed (compared with figures of 79%, 18% and 3% respectively for working age males).

Economic activity of the working-aged population (2023)

Source: Analysis of ONS Quarterly Labour Force Survey by BCS
* Includes a small number of individuals in work but not as employees/self-employed (i.e. <1% of the total)

Overall, the level of female representation within the workforce was slightly lower than would be expected (i.e. accounting for 48% of those in work compared with 51% of the population), and this was also the case when considering representation amongst the unemployed at that time – women in this case accounting for 44% of the total. In 2023, women were seen to account for a higher proportion of the inactive population (59%).