Why more women should work in tech
Technology is an ever-growing industry, with IT specialists being some of the most in-demand candidates sought after by recruiters. Current figures suggest that of the over 2 million people working in IT in the UK, just 26% are women. Unfortunately, this is no secret; we've known for years that the technology workforce is disproportionately swayed towards men. However, there are so many clear reasons why we need to work to increase the number of women who choose a career in tech which will benefit everyone.
Increased innovation
Many studies have shown that companies who actively invest in building a diverse workforce reap the benefits of this. Along with employee satisfaction and financial performance, innovation has proven to increase when minority groups are represented in a business. Diversity of thought means that the more opinions, backgrounds and cultures you bring into idea generation and decision-making, the more perspectives you will get on the topic. The technology industry serves almost everybody in the world - that's one big target demographic, filled with people from different genders, backgrounds and cultures. In order to effectively serve everybody, the teams working on the products and services need to have diversity of thought in order to build an innovative end result.
We need role models
Young girls and women working in the industry are in desperate need of female role models to look up to and gain invaluable advice and support from. Research has shown the importance of like-minded peers when it comes to progressing in a job. And this is even more true when it comes to women, as a recent study confirmed - 60% of women working in STEM say that they have been inspired by a role model compared to 46% of men.
Whilst it's great that the number of women in junior / entry-level positions in tech is (slowly) increasing, currently, women hold just 10.9% of senior / C-Suite level positions. Without clear role models to look up to, women are leaving technology as they experience men making all the key decisions. With more women entering tech, we are able to foresee a future where women hold senior deicision-making positions in technology companies, and therefore an increase in the number of role models for the younger generations.
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To fix the talent shortage
With the technology industry growing at an unprecedented rate every year, the demand for skilled talent is quickly outgrowing the supply, leaving us experiencing a concerning tech talent shortage. Specialist areas like artificial intelligence, cloud computing and project management roles are in high demand with recruiters. Women possess many of the soft skills which lend well to these areas; problem-solving, attention to detail and forward-thinking to name a few. There is a real opportunity to encourage women to utilise these skills and learn technology specialisms to pursue their career in IT and help to answer the call for more tech talent.
To find out more about the gender gap in tech and how we can close it, read the latest articles on Women in Tech.
Marketing Specialist | Expertise in Market Research, Digital Marketing Strategy and Creative Content Development | Passionate About Helping Brands Grow
11 个月I applaud the article for highlighting the importance of increasing the representation of women in the technology industry. As the article rightly states, diversity of thought is crucial for driving innovation and improving problem-solving. Women bring unique perspectives, experiences, and approaches to problem-solving that can greatly benefit the tech industry. ???? ??
Product Management || Client Services || CRM || Innovation || Operations Management
11 个月Encouraging more women to join the tech industry is crucial for diversity and innovation. Let's continue breaking barriers and fostering a supportive community for women in tech! ???? #WomenInTech #TechDiversity"
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11 个月Diversity of thought 100%. If we are creating technology for women to use (which is 50% of the population after all) we need women and a range of diverse thinkers on the design and development team!
Growth Marketer | Digital Creative ?? | Personal Branding | Sales pages Master ?? | Consultant | Project Manager
11 个月This is such an important conversation! Closing the gender gap in tech not only promotes diversity but also unlocks a wealth of innovation and perspectives. The need for more female role models is evident, and it's inspiring to see efforts to address this gap. The correlation between a diverse workforce and increased innovation is undeniable. By encouraging and empowering more women to pursue careers in tech, we not only bridge the talent shortage but also create a more inclusive and dynamic industry. Let's continue to champion diversity and equality in technology! ????