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This document presents a comprehensive analysis of the gender imbalance in the UK ICT sector, highlighting statistics that show women comprise only 19% of the IT and telecom workforce, a decrease from 22% in 2001. It explores barriers faced by women, such as perceptions of a male-dominated culture, pay gaps, and lack of role models. The importance of increasing female representation in ICT is emphasized, focusing on the need for diverse teams and the critical role of education and targeted recruitment campaigns, like Computer Clubs for Girls and CWU initiatives, to attract women to technology careers.
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Women in ICT today A UK Perspective Bill Taylor Senior Policy Advisor, CWU UNI ICT Forum Ljubljana 26th September 2007
The gender imbalance • Women account for: • 46% of the UK workforce • 19% of the UK IT and Telecoms Workforce • Women in IT/telecoms fell from 22% in 2001 to 19% in 2006
Glass ceilings for women • Women account for: • 18% of ICT managers • 12% of IT Strategy and planning professionals • 7% of telecoms engineers • 58% of database assistants/clerks
Higher education choices • 58% of higher education places awarded to women in 2005 • 24% of places on IT courses awarded to women • Girls represent 45% of General Secondary Education ICT candidates, and • 36% of A-Level (further education) ICT candidates
Barriers to women in ICT • Perceptions of male dominated workplaces with glass ceilings for women • View that people in IT are technically able but lack interpersonal skills • Lack of female role models in the industry • Traditional approach to recruitment • Competitive culture of long hours more suited to males • Pay gap – 20%, and pay secrecy
Why we need more women in ICT • IT becoming more critical to business success • Skills shortage - more people needed • Skills gap - increasingly complex high value added roles • Because a diverse workforce is better for business
Recruiting and retaining women in ICT • Education • Media campaigns • Female role models • Changing the culture of the workplace • Flexible working policies and practices • Better facilities for women • Pay equality and transparency
Education • Computer clubs for girls (CC4G) • Introduced by e-skills UK in June 2005 • National programme with over 3,000 schools and 97,000 girls involved • Run and supported by schools, employers and regional partners • Targets girls aged 10-14 • Highlights the growing diversity of applications for technology
Computer Clubs for Girls contd. • Aims to make technology exciting through music, fashion and design • Aims to encourage girls to consider IT careers • Objective of addressing the gender imbalance in IT • 45% of secondary ICT courses taken by girls, up from 41% in 2002
CWU activity • CWU has significant membership in incumbent operator BT, where: • 60% of contact centre advisers are women, but only 1.4% of engineers are women • Spearheaded a campaign in BT to recruit, retain and promote women engineers • Across our broad membership base the CWU promotes: • Better flexible work patterns • Better facilities for women • Equality training for managers • Support networks for women
Recruitment campaign in BT Openreach • ‘Fresh Air’ campaign aimed at recruiting women engineers • Doubled number of women recruits from 2% - 5% in one year • CWU input throughout • Uses female role models • Changes the image of the job • Targets women through magazines, newspapers and websites
Women in ICT • Questions ?
