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Leaving Careers in IT: Gender Differences in Retention

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  • Paula Stephan

  • Sharon Levin

Abstract

The low prevalence of women in the information technology (IT) workforce has received considerable attention in recent years. The focus of much of this discussion concerns how women can be recruited into careers in IT by making careers more attractive and accessible to women. The size of the IT workforce depends on retention as well as recruitment. The focus of this study is on retention, examining factors related to retention and how retention varies by gender. Data for the study come from the Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT) compiled by Science Resources Statistics (SRS), National Science Foundation (NSF). We find that retention varies by gender and that a sizeable proportion of IT-trained women who are not working in IT jobs leave the labor force rather than take positions in other occupations. We also find that marriage and family play different roles for women and men in affecting retention. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2005

Suggested Citation

  • Paula Stephan & Sharon Levin, 2005. "Leaving Careers in IT: Gender Differences in Retention," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 383-396, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:30:y:2005:i:4:p:383-396
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-005-2583-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Claudia Goldin, 2004. "The Long Road to the Fast Track: Career and Family," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 596(1), pages 20-35, November.
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    1. João Ricardo Faria & Rajeev K. Goel & Devrim Göktepe-Hultén, 2022. "Factors facilitating the inventing academics transition from nascent entrepreneurs to business owners," Chapters, in: David E. Audretsch & Erik B. Lehmann & Albert N. Link (ed.), Handbook of Technology Transfer, chapter 5, pages 75-102, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Jennifer Hunt, 2016. "Why do Women Leave Science and Engineering?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 69(1), pages 199-226, January.
    3. Dirk Dohse & Rajeev K. Goel & Devrim Göktepe‐Hultén, 2021. "Paths academic scientists take to entrepreneurship: Disaggregating direct and indirect influences," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(7), pages 1740-1753, October.
    4. Sharon Sassler & Katherine Michelmore & Kristin Smith, 2017. "A Tale of Two Majors: Explaining the Gender Gap in STEM Employment among Computer Science and Engineering Degree Holders," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Mike Thelwall, 2020. "Mid-career field switches reduce gender disparities in academic publishing," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 123(3), pages 1365-1383, June.
    6. Devrim Göktepe-Hulten & Prashanth Mahagaonkar, 2010. "Inventing and patenting activities of scientists: in the expectation of money or reputation?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 401-423, August.
    7. Sharon Sassler & Pamela Meyerhofer, 2023. "Factors shaping the gender wage gap among college-educated computer science workers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(10), pages 1-27, October.
    8. Cristen Dalessandro & Alexander Lovell, 2025. "Inequalities in Self-Assessments of Mental and Physical Wellbeing Among Workers in the Tech Industry," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Stoetzer, Matthias-Wolfgang & Osborn, Evan, 2014. "Does gender really matter? An analysis of Jena University scientists collaboration with industry and non-profit-partners," Jena Contributions to Economic Research 2014/2, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Business Administration.
    10. Rajeev Goel & Devrim Göktepe-Hultén, 2013. "Nascent entrepreneurship and inventive activity: a somewhat new perspective," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 471-485, August.
    11. Lisa D. Cook & Chaleampong Kongcharoen, 2010. "The Idea Gap in Pink and Black," NBER Working Papers 16331, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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