Why We Should Encourage More Women to Work in IT
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Why We Should Encourage More Women to Work in IT
More women than men feel there aren't enough females in the IT profession, but both genders agree that more encouragement in school would improve the situation. -
Opinion Gap
Of the IT professionals surveyed, 94% of the women in IT feel that their gender is underrepresented in the tech industry, but just 67% of male tech pros agree. -
Long-Term Prospects
69% of men in IT plan to stay in the field for their entire career, compared to just 57% of women tech pros who anticipate doing that. -
Early Starters
20% of male tech pros said they first got interested in tech as a potential career in elementary or middle school, while only 9% of women survey respondents said that. -
Academic Path
59% of male tech pros focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes in college, compared to just 44% of women tech pros who did. -
Educational Advantage
69% of all respondents believe that the key to getting more women in IT is to encourage females to pursue tech in high school and/or college. -
Determined Destination
67% of men in tech identified IT as a career path before starting their first job, compared to 49% of women survey respondents who made that decision. -
Greatest Job Challenges for Women in IT
High pressure: 45%, Need to keep up with skills needed for work: 44%, Lack of advancement opportunity: 43%, Long hours: 39%, Lack of work-life balance: 35%, Unwelcoming environment for women and minorities: 30% -
Parting Ways
26% of women in tech said they left their last job due in part to unfair treatment by their team members or a manager, but only 11% of male IT pros said they've done this. -
Home Work
41% of women in IT said outside responsibilities—such as having children or caring for elderly parents—will either slow or stall their career, while only 31% of male tech pros agree. -
What All Tech Pros Love About Their Work
Challenging projects: 75%, Variety of tasks: 57%, Opportunity to be creative: 53%
A significantly larger number of women tech professionals than men believe that their gender is underrepresented in the IT industry, according to a recent survey from Harvey Nash, an IT recruiting, outsourcing/offshoring and executive search firm, and ARA, an organization that seeks to attract, retain and advance women in technology. The resulting report, "2017 Women in Technology: Overcoming Obstacles and Unlocking Potential," indicates that much of the issue takes shape at an early age for future tech workers: More men than women said they first grew interested in IT as a potential career in elementary or middle school. Men are also more likely to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes in college. It should come as no surprise, then, that a majority of survey respondents feel that it's key to encourage more girls to pursue tech subjects in school. "The visibility and value of a STEM education has skyrocketed in the last decade, but we're not yet seeing the full impact translate to the IT workplace," said Bob Miano, USA president and CEO of Harvey Nash. "School and home life can spark the first interest in technology, but individuals as well as companies need to take action throughout the lifecycle of IT careers to keep that enthusiasm alive. There's no shortage of viable career opportunities for those with an IT interest, whether they become interested early or later. Increasing and keeping women in IT is critical to meet the demand for tech talent in the midst of a permanent IT labor shortage." Nearly 660 women and men tech professionals took part in the research.