The Effect of Gender Inequality on Job Satisfaction, Productivity, and Career Progression of Female IT and Software Professionals

Abstract

With technological advancement and the sudden shift in the need for a consistent online presence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IT and Software industry continues to grow as a valuable and competitive profession. Albeit this industry’s significant contribution to the country’s development, it continues to be dominated by men. Hence, a study involving a total of 204 female IT and software professionals in the Philippines aged 18-65 was conducted to examine the effects of gender inequality on their job satisfaction, productivity, and career progression. By using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM), results show that the perception or experience of gender inequality leads to less satisfied and less productive employees, which further translates to the determination to grab the opportunity to progress in their careers. Notably, gender inequality creates a positive effect on one’s motivation for career progression. Despite this study’s limitations, its findings will provide significant insights for Human Resource practitioners on how to properly manage a growing workforce in a male-dominated industry and ensure that they are satisfied with their jobs, productive, and can pave the way for advancement in their careers. Keywords: Gender Inequality, Job Satisfaction, Employee Productivity, Career Progression, IT and Software, Female Professionals, Minority, Social Exchange Theory