43% OF WOMEN ARE EYEING THE EXIT AT WORK: LA FOSSE CALLS OUT INDUSTRY BIAS
A new initiative to support women in tech has launched, following striking research that revealed nearly half (43%) of women in the workplace are eyeing the exit – not due to lack of ambition, but because they simply can’t see a way up.
The ‘Women at Work Blueprint’ report, released by tech and transformation talent specialist, La Fosse, shares insights from over 1,700 women, most of whom work in the tech sector, and paints a sobering picture.
The report reveals a staggering reality: 43% of female career exits are attributed to lack of clear progression. Inflexible work arrangements (42%), lack of support for skill development (32%), and gender bias and discrimination (15%) are also significant contributors.
Highlighting a systemic retention crisis, the Blueprint report was unveiled at La Fosse’s inaugural UNBOUND event on 23rd July at The Conduit in Covent Garden. The UNBOUND movement is designed to tackle the persistent gender imbalance in technology with honesty, inclusivity, and practical solutions.
Lucy Kemp, La Fosse’s Director of Brand, set the tone for the evening by asking a question that resonates across the industry: Why are we still talking about equality in 2025?
“The things we’re going to talk about tonight are probably things I spoke about 22 years ago. Although it feels more pressured that we fix things, the good news is, we have more data now. We understand what is happening, we understand how to fix it, and we understand why it’s important that we do so.”
The Women at Work Blueprint report also identifies three consistent priorities that women, who make up 40% of the global workforce, expressed across all demographics, industries, and generations:
Earning fairly: Women still face unequal compensation and missed promotion opportunities compared to male colleagues.
Learning continuously: Access to professional development and career progression support remains unequal.
Living authentically: Work-life integration needed genuine personalisation, not one-size-fits-all flexibility policies.
During the evening, a panel discussion hosted by La Fosse’s Justine Paech featured senior voices across the tech sector all echoing the same, clear message: it’s time to stop debating the issue and start dismantling it – with practical solutions backed by data.
Importantly, the leaders also highlighted data in the Blueprint report that supports what many already know – companies with women in leadership see 21% better financial performance, and employees working in organisations that deprioritise gender equity are 35% less likely to be engaged.
As Lucy highlighted, “Sometimes, the simplest actions have the greatest impact.”
“Organisations need to adopt systematic approaches, ensuring women are nominated for stretch assignments, board presentations, and client-facing opportunities – essential steps to building visibility and influence.
What’s next for UNBOUND
UNBOUND will continue with bi-monthly events and targeted schemes to address key challenges from the research in the tech sector.
