Closing the Gender Gap in Technology

Recently, I was asked to speak on a panel to a group of students at a local STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) school. I happily accepted the opportunity and joined a varied panel of IT professionals, an engineer, a chemist, and a workforce analyst (myself). Our role for the panel discussion was to provide insight into choosing a career, developing that career path, tips for success in the “real world,” and our one most important piece of life advice. No short order for a morning discussion at a middle school!

Despite the stereotypical expectations of this age group as distracted, there was an excitement and energy within the audience. Perhaps part of that excitement was due to the fact the event allowed them out of their normally scheduled algebra class, but it was also two weeks before the end of the school year when students begin to “check out” and these students were nothing but present and engaged.

That morning, I went into the panel discussion with a Mission: to ensure that I developed a connection with the female students. My goal was to acknowledge and share the statistics around the disproportionate engagement of females in STEM professions. Statistics that show despite a 47% participation in the U.S. workforce today, women comprise as little as 25% of those working in STEM professions. Even more shocking, is that 41% of women leave tech employers after 10 years compared to only 21% of men. Consider these points:

• The National Science Foundation anticipates that 80% of jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills
• STEM professionals with lower level academic degrees typically earn higher wages than those with higher non STEM academic degrees
• The tech industry is a significant contributor to U.S. GDP and private sector payroll. It is  reshaping the nature of the employment relationship and that up to 35% of the workforce is considered external, contingent talent functioning in an on-demand economy

These are some large and meaningful topics to explore; topics which are increasingly becoming broader social and educational conversations. The emergence of non-profit groups addressing the gender gap in technology are becoming well-known and organizations continue to tout improved diversity and inclusion programs to promote increased diversity in hiring.  However, a recent study by the American Association of University Women reports a decline in percentage of IT roles held by women from 35% in 1990 to 26% in 2013. It’s also interesting to note, that the same study found an increase in the participation of women in other STEM professions such as biological and material scientists.

The statistics are clear: the computer sciences segment of STEM professions are especially lacking in gender diversity. From an employment perspective, the premiere employers in the tech industry have dismal hiring statistics when it comes to women in computer sciences as well: Google’s women employees comprise 17% of tech jobs, Facebook 15%, and Twitter 10%.

That morning, I found a high level of interest in exploring these topics among the students, teaching staff, and even my fellow panelists. I can only infer that their interest expresses a desire for more dialogue behind the drivers for these statistics; I can only infer that their interest expresses a desire for idea development to increasingly engage and empower female minds to hold on to their career goals - particularly in the years in which working women becoming working mothers.  I have made this commitment and am hopeful that we can all begin to collaboratively support a holistic approach to empowering the career choices we are offering the girls and women of our country for STEM and beyond.