New study highlights widening pay gaps among various minority communities.
The pay gap between men and women in the tech industry has grown significantly from 2016 to 2021, according to a recent report by The Dais, a public policy organization linked with Toronto Metropolitan University. In 2016, men in tech earned $7,200 more on average than women, but by 2021, this gap had widened to $20,000, with men earning $91,000 and women $71,400 annually.
Danielle Graham, co-founder of The Firehood, expressed disappointment with the findings, noting that even senior women's wages remained stagnant over these years, despite efforts to control for job changes or family responsibilities. This lack of growth for higher-earning women is cited as a primary reason for the widening pay disparity.
The report also highlighted disparities among racialized and non-racialized tech workers. On average, racialized tech workers earned less than their non-racialized counterparts, with Arab workers earning more than white workers but Black and Filipino workers earning the least among all groups.
Furthermore, Indigenous participation in the tech sector remains low at only 1.4%, compared to 4.8% for other groups, partly due to challenges such as limited broadband access and digital literacy in rural communities.
Immigrants, particularly those on work or study visas without permanent residency, have a higher participation rate in tech (8.7%) but earn significantly less than immigrants with permanent residency or those born in Canada.
The report also noted that Canada's immigration policies, aimed at filling tech job gaps, contribute to the high number of newcomers in the sector. However, the average salaries for tech workers in Canada are considerably lower compared to those in the United States, which poses challenges in attracting and retaining skilled tech workers.
Melissa Nightingale, founder of Raw Signal Group, criticized the practice of requiring Canadian work experience from immigrant job applicants, calling it counterproductive in a sector where remote work across borders is common.
In summary, the report underscores significant inequalities in the tech industry based on gender, race, and immigration status, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities and create a more equitable workplace.
