A slightly jarring study dated 03.04.25 showing how many more women than men are put off applying for jobs requiring the use of “numbers and data” has got this Business Analyst analysing and trying to identify why, writes IT contractor Elaine Richardson.
As I told Women In Tech last week, more women than ever manage their own finances, yet somehow, females are still apparently reluctant to take on work that is linked to numbers.
Specifically, when presented with the statement, “If a job I was interested in listed ‘using numbers and data’ as a requirement, it would put me off applying,” 20% of men agreed or strongly agreed, versus a hefty 35% of women who agreed or strongly agreed.
My school’s ‘boys-only’ attitude stopped me studying maths
I’ve also shared with Women in Tech my experience of the “boys-only” attitude at schools, which, in my case, nearly prevented me from studying Physics and prohibited me from studying Maths.
Fast-forward from the classroom, where I saw discrimination, to the workplace 40 years later, where I still see discrimination, and I’m forced to the conclusion that men (in my experience) are brought up to have a higher level of general confidence than most women.
Again, this is based on what I’ve encountered while working in UK tech since 1985. But this stronger self-confidence in men than women applies to many areas of life, including going forward for freelance and temporary contracts or applying for full-time jobs.
It’s something that, as women, we have to fight, however uncomfortable that might make us.
When my dream tech job had three requirements, I learnt the other two
I’ve tried to fight this myself.
In fact, I applied for a tech role where I had only one of the three main requirements. The employer wanted:
- COBOL;
- UNIX, and;
- SQL.
I had only COBOL. I bought a few manuals, and taught myself basic SQL and UNIX.
I was surprised how easy they were, and how much they were like other operating systems and data tools.
But it still didn’t feel comfortable to me – going forward into a formal job application process that required all three tech skills.
Full (accidental) disclosure during my tech job interview…
While I was chuffed to be shortlisted and invited for a face-to-face interview, I found myself admitting to the interviewer that I had just taught myself the latter two “requirements” after seeing their job advert.
Seemingly impressed with my initiative, resourcefulness, and perhaps my candour, a brave hiring manager offered me the role!
And to those Women In Tech readers wondering if they should learn something afresh to meet a job advert’s requirements, it wasn’t hard at all. As to the uncomfortable bit. I reassured myself. I did what I’ve certainly seen boys in the classroom do. And that’s:
‘Fake It Until You Make It.’
When I think on this issue more closely, I believe there is likely an element of lack of confidence and risk-taking appetite at play.
In my own experiences, I feel as if it’s closely connected to upbringing and, as I’ve strongly signalled already, schooling.
As we approach the mid-way point of 2025, my hope is that girls are now being encouraged to take risks. The truth is, though, I wish I was more confident that it was true.
Why else are more than one in three women put off from jobs listing ‘using data and numbers’?
Well, based on what I’ve seen over the years, there may also be a sentiment that ‘numbers are blue collar,’ whereby digit-requiring roles are the preserve of manual occupations.
But I would have hoped that with how much skill is required in construction and manufacturing, for example, that a reluctance towards numbers is no longer a reluctance to join those high-tech industries?
Don’t diss cashiers
Not every number-related role is a rocket scientist; it’s true. But then again, not every number-related job is merely handing over your change. And even if it was, what’s the problem?
The ‘Why’ behind National Numeracy findings (showing more women than men stepping back from applying for roles requiring data and digits) is only one big question, of course. The other question troubling me as a Business Analyst is:
How can we improve job-hunting women’s seemingly low level of number self-confidence?
I suspect that many jobs that claim to require number and data usage are actually looking for something different — number pattern recognition.
These employers are invariably not looking for actual algebraic/pure mathematical skills — but I sense this could be the perception.
In today’s world, my bet is that employers seeking the numerate among us want people who can solve their pain points.
A trio that tells you if data/numbers as part of a tech job wouldn’t trouble you
For example, while I know a few tech job candidates who also might not be overjoyed at the ‘data/number’ requirement that spooked 35% of women in the study, those candidates would (probably) all answer ‘Yes’ to the following three questions.
Three questions that, actually, all have numeracy at their heart but just don’t sound as off-putting:
- Can you look at a spreadsheet and see where the biggest costs lie?
- Can you spot an outlier on a sheet of financial returns?
- Do you know if your electricity bill is wrong?
Perhaps we need job adverts in tech and other key sectors to be more nuanced.
Time for tech job adverts to be tweaked?
We maybe need employers and hiring decision-makers to explain what sort of numbers the successful job applicant will be working with; whether there is software available to help, and what the numbers are to be used for.
It’s all a question of degree of course (nod to numbers not intended, unlike my introduction at this article’s outset — and if you noticed the date written as digits, your exposure to numbers might need to be increased to keep your number confidence from crumbling!)
Spot the numerical problem? I’d give it a go. Will you?
Personally, I will never be a mathematician.
Algebra brings me out in hives. But whether it was for my tech company I formerly ran, or for my bank account today, I can look at a page of numbers and spot the problem. Usually.
Similarly, keep in mind — nobody has to be a mathematical genius to apply for jobs listing “using numbers and data” unless perhaps you’re applying for a role on the website of CERN. Go on; what do you have to lose?
Elaine Richardson
Elaine Richardson was raised on a Yorkshire farm and attended her local comprehensive school, before trying her hand as a pizza restaurant manager! Elaine holds a a BsC(hons) in Economics and Economic history, and a CCTA certification as a systems analyst. She has worked in IT since 1985 and contracted from 1993 to March 2020. Elaine won her IR35 case against HMRC in Feb 2011, with the FTT judgment in favour of ECR Consulting Ltd now framed above her desk. Elaine is today available to hire as a Consultant Business Analyst.
