The figures, disclosed in a recent letter from the Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, Lord Patrick Vallance, highlight a positive trend for gender equality in a field traditionally dominated by men.
According to the statistics, 58% of DSIT’s science and engineering roles are held by women, compared to 42% by men, marking a notable milestone, given the historical underrepresentation of women in STEM fields.
Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, said: “It’s a pleasant surprise to see so many women working within DSIT, and such a high percentage within science and engineering roles.
“Before becoming an MP, I was a chartered engineer for many years, and I know how male-dominated the sector can be. Since becoming an MP, I’ve campaigned to help women to pursue opportunities in STEM.
“Diversity isn’t a mere box-ticking exercise – it allows us to combat groupthink and helps us innovate. I hope these statistics can provide encouragement and lessons for the rest of the sector.”
Commenting on the statistics, Michaela Jeffery-Morrison, founder of the Women in Technology World Series, said: ‘The statistics showing that women now hold 58% of science and engineering roles at DSIT signal a notable shift in gender representation within government STEM positions.
‘This progress reflects the impact of long-term diversity efforts and it is great to see. However, the lower representation of ethnic minority staff highlights a continuing challenge in broader inclusivity.
‘For the industry, these figures suggest that targeted policies can drive change, but further work is needed to ensure diversity beyond gender, particularly in private-sector STEM roles.’
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