African Women Are Bagging Skills More Than Anyone, But Can’t Land Tech Jobs

African women are graduating with science and technology degrees at higher rates than their global peers, but a significant “school-to-work” leak is preventing them from landing jobs and ascending to leadership roles in the continent’s tech industry, according to a new study from McKinsey.

The analysis, titled “Closing the loop: The quest for gender parity in African tech,” paints a picture of both remarkable progress and persistent barriers. It finds that Africa boasts the highest percentage of women STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates in the world at 47%, outperforming Europe (42%) and North America (39%).

Yet, this educational achievement does not translate into professional parity.

“There is a steep drop-off from the classroom to the boardroom,” the report states, noting that women’s representation plummets after graduation. While nearly half of STEM graduates are women, they hold only 23% to 30% of tech roles. The numbers shrink further at the top: less than 12% of tech leadership positions and a mere 10% of tech startup CEO roles are filled by women.

This disconnect suggests that systemic social and cultural barriers, not a lack of qualified candidates, are holding women back.

“The reality is stark,” the report notes. “Almost half of Africa’s women STEM university graduates are not making it into the tech workforce.”

The challenges compound at every career stage. Once hired, women in African tech report high job satisfaction but face significant headwinds in advancement. About a quarter of the women surveyed cited gender bias and limited opportunities for skills development as major obstacles.

Furthermore, traditional caregiving responsibilities disproportionately fall on women, creating an additional burden that can push them out of the workforce. The study found that 12% of women in tech had left their jobs prematurely, with work environment, work-life balance, and family responsibilities among the top reasons.

The funding landscape for women entrepreneurs is even more stark. In 2024, startups with solo women founders or all-women teams received just 1% of total tech start-up funding in Africa, about 100 times less than those founded by men.

The report identifies key areas where targeted action could help close the gap. Companies are urged to partner with schools and universities to create a clearer path from education to employment through targeted internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs.

Furthermore, to retain talent, the analysis suggests firms need to implement policies that support women’s advancement, including bias training for managers, gender pay equity audits, and better support for caregivers. Meanwhile, investors, governments, and the private sector are called on to create more dedicated grant programs and mentorship opportunities for women entrepreneurs to level the playing field.

The report concludes that while Africa has a stronger foundation for gender parity in tech than other regions, proactive leadership is crucial to prevent talented women from “dropping off” at every stage. Harnessing this underutilised pool of talent, it argues, is not just a matter of equity but is vital for driving the continent’s tech-enabled economic growth.