(WASHINGTON, DC) – For the fourth consecutive year, the District of Columbia was named the best city in the country for women in tech, according to SmartAsset, a digital publication that analyzes data on factors such as gender pay gap, income after housing costs, women’s representation in the workforce and percent growth in employment. The news comes on the heels of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner’s recent trip to Silicon Valley to pitch Washington, DC as an ideal location for tech companies and promote the District as the capital of inclusive innovation.
“DC prides itself on being a place that not only attracts talented entrepreneurs and innovators, but also a place that prioritizes inclusivity and diversity,” said Mayor Bowser. “As Mayor, one of my top priorities is ensuring that we level the playing field for women and girls, and this ranking from SmartAsset speaks to our efforts. While DC has made significant progress, we must continue to explore innovative strategies to ensure our tech scene remains diverse and entrepreneurs can thrive.”
Since Mayor Bowser was elected, Washington, DC has become a leading and desirable location for technology companies. According to the SmartAsset study, Women make up 38.5% of the tech workforce in the District, the highest rate in the country and well above the average of 25.9%. Additionally, the number of tech jobs in D.C. grew by 33% from 2013 to 2016 - the third-highest rate in the study’s data set. The Bowser Administration has also released a Request for Information for input on the design of and approach for its Inclusive Innovation Fund, a new program that aims to increase access to capital for District entrepreneurs, particularly for underrepresented entrepreneurs, such as people of color and women. The investment fund will be focused on early stage ventures.
"The data shows Washington, D.C. continues to be a great place for women in tech to work and live, relative to the 58 large cities we looked at. The city claims the top spot in our study for the fourth consecutive year. What sets DC apart is the strong representation of women in the local tech workforce,” said AJ Smith, VP of Financial Education at SmartAsset.
Details on the study, including full methodology and rankings, can be found here: smartasset.com/mortgage/best-cities-for-women-in-tech-2018.