Retention of Women in Tech – A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic review consolidates empirical research on the retention and attrition of women in technology careers, addressing fragmented findings and offering a structured framework for future inquiry and practice. A preregistered search across six databases (2010–2024) identified 21 peer-reviewed empirical studies, analyzed using PRISMA guidelines and synthesized narratively. Findings reveal five key categories–policy and labor market conditions, company culture, organizational and team practices, leadership dynamics, and individual experiences—operating across macro, meso, and micro levels. Cross-cutting enablers, such as inclusive policies, flexible work, mentoring, and supportive environments, emerged as central to retention. While limited by selection criteria, the review underscores the need for longitudinal, intersectional research using standardized metrics. Practical implications include dismantling masculine cultures, embedding flexible practices, and institutionalizing equitable systems. This is the first international systematic review on women’s retention in tech, reframing the issue from individual-level adaptation to systemic change through a five-factor, multi-level framework.