The tech industry is more than aware that it has some work to do regarding gender and racial diversity. It seems that tech companies are bringing in new initiatives every month to show their support and commitment to fixing this issue.
Whilst many tech companies are placing successful initiatives to close the gender gap and encourage more women into tech, several women feel that their company isn’t prioritising diversity. If tech companies want to maintain a representative and skilled workforce, they need to demonstrate greater commitment to promoting female talent. These are women who don’t just want to start their career in the tech sector but those who are established experts in the field. A recent study has found that 48% of women don’t believe the tech industry is prioritising diversity and trying to close the gender gap.
Tech companies are shifting their focus and boosting their efforts to re attract women who have taken a career break and are looking to return. By doing this, businesses are retaining their knowledge and experience which will benefit them culturally, reputationally and financially.
The latest world economic gender gap report found that there is an increasing gender gap worldwide. 89% of British women and students who are interested in pursuing a career in tech said they would help to diversify the sector and bring new perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Women can bring great benefits to the tech sector and to support them, tech companies can provide greater flexibility in benefits and an improved working environment. Women also feel that their contribution to the tech sector will improve company and brand reputation along with trust in tech companies in general and to help tech companies with prioritising diversity.
Around 60% of women who have taken a career break and returned to the tech sector said that taking a break had a negative impact on their career progression. Three in five women who have taken a career break feel that their contributions are valued less by their employers. Companies that provide women who are returning to tech with opportunities to learn new skills and retrain will help them to overcome the negative impact returning to work has on their confidence. Around 30% of women find being given these opportunities when returning to work helps them to be more successful in their roles. 90% of women claimed that providing an inclusive culture and flexibility will benefit all employees not just women.
A rise in returnships is raising hopes for women in the tech industry as 64% of women believe that these programmes that entail reskilling, retraining and mentoring are essential for overcoming re-entry challenges. Such programmes can help women to feel empowered and build form their previous experience instead of feeling like their starting from the beginning. These programmes can encourage women to return to the tech sector if they know they can be provided with the right support as this is something, they identify as essential to their career success. Not only are these programmes empowering more women to re-enter the tech industry, but 66% also say that their company has helped them with updating their technical skills when returning to the workplace.