Is there a problem in the workplace? Is the technology industry different than other industries? What are businesses actually doing to improve the advancement of women in technology?
These are all important questions to ask. Why? The facts speak for themselves. According to ICTC, women make up 47% of the workforce, but hold just a quarter of the technology jobs in Canada. Now more than ever before, the demand for skilled professional jobs in technology is
increasing and the skills shortage is becoming bigger. To fill this prevalent demand, women need to be a bigger part of the equation.
ICTC estimates that by 2019, there will be a shortage of approximately 182,000 workers in Canada. By 2021, that number increases to almost 216,000 jobs. To add to the concern, over the past 20 years, the number of women graduating with Computer Science Degrees has
declined by 19%.
How the Technology Industry Differs From Other Industries
While other professional sectors such as Finance, Legal and Medicine have or are improving gender parity, the tech industry continues to lag behind other industry sectors in gender diversity. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise as 80% of men hold the highest paying jobs
in the tech sector, while 80% of the lowest paying jobs are held by women. A recent study conducted by Microsoft found that young girls interest in STEM subjects dropped off significantly by age 15. Perceived inequality in the workplace is contributing to this drop-off. Six in 10 girls admitted feeling more confident pursuing STEM careers if they knew men and women were treated equally in the field.
What Businesses Can Do to Improve Gender Imbalance
What it truly comes down to is education and encouragement. Whether it’s developing mentorship programs to encourage young girls to explore careers in technology or educating front-line managers to embrace differences between hiring and retaining women versus men,
education is key.
Another great opportunity is to become an employer of choice. Openly advertise initiatives to promote and attract women and include Diversity Statements in all job postings. SurveyMonkey has a great example:
“SurveyMonkey is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are
committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.”
While it’s one thing to commit to promoting diversity in the workplace, it’s another to act on it. As an employer, you should be identifying and improving pay equity issues and show your employees not only do you talk the talk, but you also walk the walk.Women thrive in work environments that are inclusive and supportive of one another. Whether you create women’s peer groups, organize seminars, provide flexible work arrangements, there are endless opportunities to improve the gender balance in your organization and ensure that you are acquiring the right talent for the job, while removing gender from the equation.
If you are looking to acquire the right talent for your organization, Intellidig can support you. We combine the most relevant and innovative sourcing techniques to help you hire the best talent. We do the heavy lifting to allow you to draw on the strengths of your internal team for a more productive hiring process. You can a dependable partner who can deliver exceptional results.