Factors Influencing Women’s Participation in the ICT Sector of Kazakhstan: Barriers and Drivers
https://doi.org/10.47703/ejebs.v69i4.578
Abstract
The participation of women in the information and communication technology (hereinafter – ICT) sector remains one of the key challenges for the digital transformation and inclusive economic development of Kazakhstan. The purpose of this study is to identify the structural, institutional and innovative factors influencing the involvement of women in entrepreneurship and management in the field of ICT. The methodological framework is based on quantitative analysis and binary logistic regression. Empirical data from the World Bank's Enterprise Survey (2024) were used, which included 1,013 companies, of which 26.9% were female-owned (≥50% female ownership or presence of a female top manager). Descriptive statistics show that most women are involved in small- and medium-sized businesses: the average company size with a female manager is 53 people versus 100 or more male employees. The econometric assessment revealed that the size of the firm is the most significant factor: an increase in the number of employees per person reduces the likelihood of female participation by 0.05 percentage points (β = - 0.0026; p < 0.01). The remaining variables demonstrated statistically insignificant but significant negative effects. connections, which indicates the presence of hidden structural obstacles. The results confirm that the key barriers remain limited access to financial resources, weak scaling opportunities for women's businesses, and the structural concentration of women in smaller and younger ICT companies. Strengthening women's participation requires targeted support measures, including loan guarantees, scaling programs, and institutional mechanisms for the development of a gender-sensitive digital ecosystem.
Keywords
Economy,
Gender Economics,
Women,
Technological Entrepreneurship,
Women's Entrepreneurship,
Business Leadership,
Labor Market
Supporting agencies: This research has been funded by the Science Committee MSHE RK grant No. AP26195827.
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For citations:
Karascony P. Factors Influencing Women’s Participation in the ICT Sector of Kazakhstan: Barriers and Drivers. Eurasian Journal of Economic and Business Studies. 2025;69(4):61-73. https://doi.org/10.47703/ejebs.v69i4.578
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