I think it's more because those are either dangerous, or not well paid, not because they're not cool or important. Generally, more dangerous work gets some kin

I think it's more because those are either dangerous, or not well paid, not because they're not cool or important. Generally, more dangerous work gets some kind of hazard pay premium. You'll see the same kind of thing with work that requires lots of travel, like truck drivers. A lot of my family does work out on oil rigs where they stay for a couple weeks at a time - they get hazard and travel pay, so it ends up being quite well paid. There's no downside to the field on the dimensions of pay and danger. Software engineering/development is safe and well paid, thus there is an unqualified incentive to get one's favored group into the field, and if there is a perception that there is a systemic internal bias against them, to attempt to alleviate that bias.