The tech industry has made tremendous strides towards creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Now, more women are working in tech than ever before. Today, 26% of tech industry workers in the UK are women. This is an improvement from 19% in 2019, according to TechNation. Of course, there’s still plenty of progress to be made, but the changes are positive. There hasn’t been a more exciting time to thrive and accelerate your career.
Of course, the bias towards one gender or another in an industry is not exclusive to tech – look at what’s happening in the world of football. It’s hard to believe that women were only able to turn professional as recently as 2018. Within a few short years, our women’s national team qualified for the World Cup final for the first time. Not only are they making their dreams come true, it’s also the dreams of football fans across the country. They are making space for the younger generation to have dreams that would have been out of reach. We could all learn a lot from this team – and not least from the outstanding leadership of Sarina Wiegman.
As in football, opportunities in the tech industry are continuing to open up for women. The workforce is becoming more diverse and inclusive and the opportunities go beyond computer science. Girls and minorities can excel in data analytics, product management, design, AI, and traditional HR, marketing, and finance roles. Suppose you don’t know what direction you want to take. In that case, there are options provided by many tech organisations, including Insight, of many entry-level schemes. These include apprenticeships, internships and graduate training programs. These can be vital in providing work experience and insight into available opportunities. They also expose you to positive role models, open dialogue, and mentorship. All these things are crucial in creating a supportive environment for girls and young people.
Providing equal opportunities is not only the right thing to do, but it also means equal pay. Access to tech careers generates well-paid, in-demand jobs that can create fulfilling careers. It’s essential to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or gender, has equal access to these opportunities.
Increasing diversity also means innovation. It can help us solve broader societal problems, which meets the needs of a changing world. Together, we’re creating a vibrant community committed to inclusive growth and development.
This article was written by Jill Murray – Vice President, EMEA Marketing at Insight.
