From glass ceiling to digital ceiling. How women are revolutionizing technology in Jalisco and the United States
- Editorial
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
The technological transformation underway in Jalisco and the United States is measured not only in terms of innovation or investment but also in inclusion. In 2024, women’s participation in the tech sector became a strategic factor for regional economic development, yet the progress made so far shows that there’s still a long road ahead.
In Jalisco, initiatives such as the “Women in STEM” program by the State Government and the University of Guadalajara resulted in an 18% increase in female enrollment in technology-related fields compared to 2023, reaching 34% representation in engineering and applied sciences. Additionally, Jalisco’s technology cluster reported a 22% increase in the number of women employed in software and hardware companies over the past year, according to the state’s Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
Across the border, the landscape is also evolving. In the United States, the Department of Labor reported that in 2024, women held 29% of jobs in the tech sector, marking a four-percentage-point increase from 2022. Programs like the State Department’s “TechWomen” and initiatives led by top universities such as MIT and Stanford have played a critical role in fostering gender equity in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software development.
The economic impact of this increased participation is tangible. In Jalisco, tech employers that implemented gender equity policies reported a 12% rise in productivity and a 9% increase in product innovation, according to the latest study by CANIETI Occidente (National Chamber of Electronics, Telecommunications and IT Industry). In the United States, a McKinsey & Company report estimated that companies with high gender diversity in their tech teams achieved up to 25% higher profitability compared to those with lower female representation.
But beyond the numbers, the advancement of women in technology carries deep social and political implications. Women’s presence in the STEM ecosystem not only diversifies perspectives in the development of new tech solutions but also strengthens regional competitiveness. Municipalities in Jalisco, such as Zapopan and Guadalajara, are investing in scholarships, bootcamps, and workshops targeted at young women, while U.S. cities like Austin and San Diego are creating gender-focused innovation hubs.
Despite these gains, 2025 is shaping up to be a critical year to consolidate progress and address ongoing challenges. The first is closing the wage gap. In both countries, women in tech still earn between 10% and 20% less than their male counterparts in equivalent positions. Additionally, female representation in tech leadership roles remains low, with only 12% of Chief Technology Officer positions in Mexican companies held by women, and just over 16% in the United States.
The second challenge is ensuring equitable access to funding for women-led startups. In 2024, only 2% of venture capital in Mexico went to women-founded projects, while the U.S. figure barely reached 3%. This lack of capital access limits the ability of women to become tech creators, not just consumers or employees.
Finally, education remains a critical hurdle. Promoting STEM careers among girls and teenagers still requires broader public campaigns, more investment in educational infrastructure, and the dismantling of gender stereotypes that remain deeply rooted in the tech culture of both countries.
The 2025 agenda must be ambitious: more aggressive public policies promoting equity, tax incentives for companies that integrate female talent, mentorship programs, and binational networking platforms connecting women leaders in the sector across Mexico and the United States. Only then will true inclusive tech innovation be possible, allowing both nations’ economic development to advance under the principle of equal opportunity.
The time to accelerate women’s inclusion in technology is not tomorrow. It’s today.
Written by: Editorial
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