Tech Layoffs and Women: Why Diversity Recruiting Matters More Than Ever in 2023

The tech industry entered 2023 reeling from unprecedented layoffs. But buried in the headlines about job cuts at Meta, Twitter, Amazon, and others is a troubling pattern: women are bearing the brunt of these reductions, threatening years of hard-won diversity progress.

The Disproportionate Impact

The numbers are stark. Research from talent intelligence platform Eightfold AI found that women are 65% more likely than men to lose their jobs in the current wave of tech layoffs. A study by 365 DataScience revealed that while two-thirds of the tech workforce consists of men, more than half of those laid off (56%) were women.

At Twitter specifically, 57% of female employees were laid off compared to 47% of men. In engineering roles, the disparity was even more pronounced: 63% of women were let go compared to 48% of their male counterparts.

Why Women Are Hit Harder

Several factors explain this disparity:

1. Department Concentration

Layoffs have hit hardest in areas where women are better represented. According to Axios, almost half of HR personnel and recruiters were laid off in tech, compared to just 10% of engineers. These support functions, while critical, are often first on the chopping block.

2. Seniority Distribution

Women make up a higher percentage of entry-level and junior positions than senior roles. A 2022 AnitaB.org survey found 38.5% of interns and 33.8% of entry-level tech workers identified as female, compared to just 23% of senior employees. Last-in, first-out policies disproportionately affect women.

3. DEI Cuts

Perhaps most concerningly, diversity, equity, and inclusion roles are being eliminated across the industry. The very people hired to improve representation are losing their positions—signaling that diversity may be seen as expendable when times get tough.

The Threat to Progress

Before these layoffs, women held just 27% of tech jobs despite comprising 47% of the workforce. The percentage of Black, Latina, and Native American women in tech had already dropped from 4.6% to 4.1% between 2018 and 2022.

Now, those modest gains are at risk. When women lose tech jobs, many exit the industry entirely—deterred by ongoing challenges with discrimination and workplace culture.

Why This Matters for Employers

Smart companies recognize that layoffs create both challenges and opportunities:

• Talent Availability: Highly qualified women are suddenly on the market
• Competitive Advantage: Companies that hire now gain talent competitors released
• Employer Brand: Actions during downturns define reputation for years
• Recovery Positioning: Diverse teams outperform when growth returns

How WomenHack Is Responding

At WomenHack, we’re doubling down on our mission. Our events continue to connect talented women—including those affected by layoffs—with companies genuinely committed to diversity.

The companies participating in WomenHack events right now are making a statement: they value diverse talent regardless of market conditions. That message resonates with candidates and builds the kind of employer brand that attracts top talent.

What Forward-Thinking Companies Are Doing

We’re seeing companies take several approaches:

1. Maintaining diversity commitments even during headcount reductions
2. Actively recruiting displaced talent from other companies
3. Protecting DEI programs that drive long-term success
4. Using events like WomenHack to connect with available talent

The Path Forward

Economic cycles are temporary. The need for diverse, innovative teams is permanent. Companies that continue investing in diversity during downturns will emerge stronger when growth returns.

If your company is hiring—or simply wants to stay connected with the women in tech community—reach out to WomenHack. The talent pool has never been deeper.