Sexual orientation and religious beliefs are among personal data on students being held by the government. (Pexels)

A study has found that bullying within the tech industry is driving away LGBT hopeful candidates.

The Tech Leavers Study surveyed over 2000 professionals who had left a position working in the tech industry and found that 20 per cent of LGBT employees had experienced bullying within the work place.

24 per cent of LGBT employees had experienced public humiliation or embarrassment, compared to just 13 per cent of non-LGBT people.

Nearly two thirds of the LGBT surveyed said that the bullying contributed towards their decision to leave the company.

One surveyed employee who works as an engineer and is transgender explained that they had experienced unprecedented discrimination.

“I was grossly underpaid, and my experiences of marginalisation as a minority was dismissed by my manager, whose general disrespect and maltreatment of me caused high levels of stress and job dissatisfaction,” they commented anonymously.

It is believed the discrimination is costing the tech industry upwards of $16 billion, according to the study.

Selisse Berry, the CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates called the workplace bullying “bad for business.”

Berry said: “If LGBT people are being bullied at work, they aren’t able to be as productive, creative, or connected to their role and their workplace.

“How can our country be on the leading edge of technology if we’re still functioning with a 1950s view of who is welcome in the workplace?” Berry added.

The report calls for three key actions within the industry to begin to combat the derogatory practice.

Firstly, it calls for a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy to by implemented. Secondly, an inclusive culture needs to be nurtured by identifying “core values” and having a firm code of conduct. Finally, the report suggests that a fair management process should be reviewed.

The study comes after the federal appeals court in the US has ruled that lesbian, gay and bisexual employees are protected against discrimination.