Women in Digital’s Annual Report reveals many women are being slowed down mid-career – often when they start families – despite more flexibility There is a growing disconnect between workplace flexibility and career progression for women working in the tech sector, Women in Digital’s (WiD) 2025 Report: Driving Change in Tech report (the report) has found. According to the report, while 77% of tech employers offer flexible work arrangements, just under 50% of women working in tech still believe having children hinders their careers. This tension is becoming harder to ignore, as the gap between workplace policies and everyday realities continues to widen. The report found 34% of respondents believed school hours had negatively affected their careers, a rise from 29% in 2024. This suggests that while flexibility looks good on paper, how it is defined needs to be broadened beyond hours spent in the office. WiD CEO and founder Holly Hunt said while it was great to see progress on flexibility, work still needs to be done to shift deep-seated structural and cultural norms. “Flexibility is now widely embraced, and that’s a win for everyone in tech. However, there is a lingering culture of presenteeism, where visibility and after-hours engagement are still seen as prerequisites for advancement, which disproportionately disadvantages caregivers,” Ms Hunt said. “The motherhood penalty hasn’t gone away, it’s just changed shape. This isn’t about women lacking confidence, it’s about the systems and cultures that still hinder progression. The report also found Only 40% of hybrid employees and 33% of remote employees agree they are encouraged to apply for senior or executive roles, compared to 56% of on-site employees. Tesla Chair and Tech Council of Australia (TCA) Board Member Robyn Denholm said diversity is not a “nice-to-have”—it’s fundamental to building a high-performing tech sector and achieving the Australian government’s […]