The tech industry has been well regarded as not only a reliable place of work but also a lucrative one where professionals can enter to grow and diversify their technical skills. However, a career in tech isn’t without its own challenges, and employees are responding to those in their own ways.
The ISACA 2025 Tech Workplace and Culture Report dives into the state of work among tech professionals and offers valuable insights into topics including diversity, salary, and career development.
We’ll be exploring three key takeaways from ISACA’s report for HR leaders to consider as they enhance their recruitment and retention strategies for their tech employees.
The Techs Are Tired
Tech employees are facing workplace-related stress at concerning levels. In the report, 54% cited heavy workloads and 43% were struggling with long hours. Another 41% reported tight deadlines as one of the major factors contributing to their burnout.
The reasons for stress can vary among employees, but the overall issue still requires attention as the employees who reported not experiencing work-related stress are in the minority at 21% of workers.
With such a high level of tech employees experiencing stress from several areas of work, these workers may be at a high risk of experiencing burnout, especially if the stress is prolonged.
HR teams that see these same issues among their tech teams can work on strategies designed to directly address these issues. For example, to avoid heavy workloads, HR can implement realistic workloads that prioritize equity and employee perspectives when assigning projects. These employees would also benefit from mental health initiatives that encourage work-life balance with targeted strategies that support employees in finding balance in their day-to-day lives.
Diversity Challenges Remain
Diversity initiativesseem to be under the microscope as they continue to make headlines, but meanwhile, it seems that employees are still experiencing disparities in the workplace. While many companies have aimed to improve diversity among their teams, ISACA found that 87% of respondents agree that gender disparities are still prevalent in the tech field with women agreeing they face higher barriers to entry.
A few notable insights regarding women in the field include:
- 27% of women agree that gender biases or stereotypes are a challenge in IT, compared to only 4% of men.
- Women were four times as likely to report experiencing gender discrimination at work than men were.
- 42% of women agreed that a pay disparity between genders still exists compared to only 15% of men.
As HR teams work to promote equity among all their employees, these insights from ISACA’s survey are key for the next steps. One strategy that HR can implement is a mentorship program that can provide women working for the company with the resources needed to maximize success within the company. HR can also review their equal pay and promotion opportunities to mitigate any potential disparities among different genders.
Why Employees Leave
Employee retention remains a prevalent issue, especially among tech employees as one-third of the respondents admitted to moving to new jobs within the last two years.
The most common reasons varied across age groups, but with employees up to 44 years of age, the top reason was the desire for a higher salary. For employees between the ages of 45 and 54, the top reason was to “improve career prospects.”
With such a large portion of the tech workforce seeking increased compensation, it is imperative for HR teams to consider competitive compensation/raises and benefits to retain their talent. Clear paths of career progression can also complement plans of competitive compensation because employees can then build up in-demand skills and reach higher positions of authority within the company.
The ISACA 2025 Tech Workplace and Culture Report highlights key challenges and opportunities for HR leaders in the tech industry. While the industry continues to evolve, HR teams that encourage their organizations to support employee well-being, equitable policies, and professional growth are likely to remain competitive among the tech workforce and retain their talented employees.
Access the full report here.
