Tech Industry Slowly Dropping DEI Efforts, Finds Harvey Nash Survey

Why It Matters

The erosion of DEI momentum threatens talent retention and widens gender gaps, potentially hampering innovation and competitiveness in a sector already facing skill shortages.

Key Takeaways

• 84% say firms support diversity, yet 10% see DEI slipping.
• Women twice as likely as men to cite career stagnation.
• Women earn roughly 8% less than male tech peers.
• 60% of women report workload increase, versus 56% of men.
• Hybrid flexibility outweighs salary for many, especially female workers.

Pulse Analysis

The Harvey Nash Tech Talent Report shows a subtle retreat in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the UK tech sector. While 84 % of respondents believe their employers are doing enough for a diverse workforce, a full 10 % perceive a decline in DEI investment, with women twice as likely as men to flag the issue. CEO Simon Crichton attributes the slowdown to a tougher macro‑economic climate—geopolitical tensions, tariffs and cost‑control pressures—that push leaders to prioritize short‑term performance over long‑term inclusion.

Retention pressures are sharpening along gender lines. The survey finds 22 % of women are unhappy in their current role versus 19 % of men, and 60 % of women report a workload increase compared with 56 % of men. Pay remains a gendered lever: women earn roughly 8 % less than male peers, yet 51 % of women cite limited career progression as their primary reason for leaving, while 60 % of men point to salary. Hybrid flexibility is a decisive factor, with more than half of all workers demanding hybrid options and women more willing to trade salary for remote work.

AI adoption is outpacing skill development, exposing another talent gap. While 76 % of tech workers have access to AI tools, only 36 % receive dedicated time to experiment, and just a third of firms invest in structured AI training. Leaders are expected to bridge this divide; 44 % of respondents say a technically savvy manager is essential for team success. The report urges organisations to create sandbox environments and embed AI literacy into career pathways, turning rapid tool rollout into sustainable capability and preventing DEI setbacks from being compounded by a skills shortage.