| According to a recent survey, carried out by | | | | over two and a half per cent, the same as in the |
| Research in Motion (RIM), almost 90 per cent of girls | | | | second quarter and up from just under two per cent |
| aged between 11 and 16 think that using technology | | | | a year earlier(2). |
| is 'cool' and is a regular topic of conversation with | | | | Why we need to encourage more women into IT |
| friends. In addition, 38 per cent of girls talk about | | | | The Government has openly recognised the skills |
| technology, including mobile downloads and social | | | | shortage impacting on the IT sector but has so far |
| networking, on a daily basis. Great news for an | | | | only offered generalised solutions to the problem. |
| industry experiencing both a chronic shortage in skills | | | | The Blue Card scheme, for example, was a |
| and dramatic decline in female workers I hear you | | | | Government recommendation aimed at plugging the |
| cry? Not so. The survey also highlighted that, despite | | | | skills gap by using skilled foreign workers. But what |
| the vast interest as consumers and end users, | | | | about exploiting the existing capabilities at home? |
| technology is only considered as a career choice by | | | | What about recognising the problem, offering tangible |
| 28 per cent of girls - compared with 52 per cent of | | | | solutions and giving people, especially |
| boys. | | | | underrepresented groups, the support and funding |
| So, where have all the good women gone? What | | | | they need to train for a rewarding IT career in an |
| steps need to be taken to help address this gender | | | | industry experiencing a skills shortage? |
| imbalance? And what are the implications for the skills | | | | It's essential that we begin to address the gender |
| shortage in the UK? | | | | imbalance as a means of plugging the skills gap and |
| From computer geek to computer chic | | | | sustaining the UK's industry and economy. Through |
| The IT industry has a serious image problem. For | | | | portraying an accurate image of the industry, and |
| many young women, the idea of working in IT | | | | challenging the way training is funded, this can |
| doesn't top their list of career choices. Thanks to the | | | | become a reality. Having more women working in |
| social stereotype of IT professionals, including their | | | | technology sectors, with a diverse range of skills, |
| portrayal in mainstream television shows like the | | | | backgrounds and outlooks, will move the industry |
| BBC's The IT Crowd, the perception of working in IT | | | | forward into the 21st century and put the UK back |
| is often viewed as dull and uninspiring. | | | | at the forefront of IT innovation. |
| Women are dramatically underrepresented within the | | | | Moving forward |
| IT industry with numbers of female IT professionals | | | | Currently, only 15 per cent of applicants to computing |
| declining year on year. In 2007, only 18 per cent of | | | | degrees, and 10 per cent of A-level computing |
| IT and telecoms professionals were female - a four | | | | students, are female(3). This imbalance is mirrored |
| per cent drop since 2001(1). | | | | throughout the industry and has a significant role to |
| The negative perception of IT obviously has a role | | | | play in the skills shortage. Women have so much to |
| to play in acting as a deterrent for women | | | | offer an industry in desperate need of rejuvenation |
| considering entering the profession. IT is widely | | | | but to make moving into IT a feasible option for |
| acknowledged to be a male dominated industry, | | | | women the financial support has to be available. |
| which also acts as a barrier for women who can feel | | | | At the moment access to grants in England and |
| intimidated by being out numbered so drastically. | | | | Wales is limited and much of the Government's |
| Tackling IT's image problem and promoting the | | | | budget for adult learning is channelled through |
| benefits of the industry to women is essential in | | | | employers. This means that women, perhaps single |
| order to move away from the stereotype 'computer | | | | mothers working in one sector but wishing to retrain |
| geek' to the more realistic 'computer chic'. | | | | to improve their prospects in another, are unable to |
| What's in IT for the ladies? | | | | make the move through the lack of financial support. |
| In reality IT has a lot to offer women and, equally, | | | | Yet, if this was readily available, many women would |
| women have a lot to offer IT. Although the industry | | | | be in a position to become career changers and enter |
| is male dominated and associated with skill sets | | | | the IT industry with the skills and qualifications |
| traditionally linked with men, such as a logical, | | | | needed to reduce the impact of the skills shortage - |
| methodical and practical outlook, this is a generalised | | | | saving the Government goodness knows how much |
| and outdated view. In fact, many roles within the | | | | in the long term! |
| industry, including web design and help desk technical | | | | We're in major need of new talent, fresh ideas and |
| support, require creativity, communication, team | | | | approaches - through encouraging women into the |
| working and problem solving skills - attributes | | | | field we can ensure that the UK's technology sector |
| traditionally linked with women. | | | | can compete in a global market and address the skills |
| A large proportion of roles within IT are either | | | | gap. Challenging traditional stereotypes of IT |
| project or shift based and are compatible with | | | | professionals, and of the industry itself, through |
| working from home. This level of flexibility should act | | | | positioning the sector as one of choice for women is |
| as a major incentive for single mothers or women | | | | a sure fire way to make this a reality. |
| with existing commitments. In addition, the salary on | | | | (1) - e-Skills UK, Technology counts: IT and Telecoms |
| offer to IT professionals is increasing substantially. | | | | insights, January 2008 |
| According to recent research carried out by Salary | | | | (2) - According to Salary Services IT salary survey, |
| Services Ltd, the average salary on offer to the IT | | | | March 2008: salaryservices.co. |
| professional in the fourth quarter of last year rose by | | | | |