tech have always been underrepresented and if we talk about this year, according to a report by Skillsoft, nearly a third (31 per cent) of women in the technology industry are considering leaving their organisation over the next 12 months. This, it added, is due to poor management, followed by a lack of training and for better compensation.
“85 per cent of our survey respondents say there’s a gender disparity within their team and 38 per cent are dissatisfied with their growth potential. We’re at a tipping point where the risk of attrition threatens to significantly widen an already prominent gender gap in the tech industry,” said Orla Daly, Chief Information Officer, Skillsoft. “While there are more opportunities for women than ever before, leaders must provide intentional support and foster the development of critical skills so that they can thrive, lead, and push the business forward.”
In its annual Women in Tech Report, Skillsoft said that a top barrier facing women pursuing careers in tech is a lack of training, particularly surrounding advancing technologies like generative AI (GenAI). When asked which tech-related topic they are most interested in learning about, 41 per cent of the respondents said AI. Despite this desire, 60 per cent said they are not yet using AI at work, and of those who are, 63 per cent haven’t received adequate training and resources to integrate the technology into their work.
The involvement and empowerment of women in AI is essential to ensuring the technology is designed and implemented in ways that are equitable and inclusive,” said Orla Daly. “Diversity fosters innovation, and therefore advancing women’s skills in AI can lead to the development of more creative and equitable solutions to business problems.”
Here are other highlights from Skillsoft’s 2024 Women in Tech Report:
Power skills are key qualities for aspiring female leaders
Besides AI, around 37 per cent women in tech are most interested in developing skills in leadership and management and 23 per cent others in project management. According to them, the three skills most important for today’s tech leaders are team communication, emotional intelligence, and active listening. Further, the top pieces of advice for women pursuing tech-related careers include investing in education, finding mentors, and building power skills.
Benefits including flexible work and professional development add significant value for talent
According to Skillsoft, only 27 per cent of women in tech report being extremely satisfied with their jobs, and 37 per cent are considering switching roles in the next year. It further stated that following growth potential, respondents expressed the greatest dissatisfaction with managerial support (29 per cent), current pay (28 per cent), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (25 per cent).
Certifications support more confident work
Per the findings for the report, 36 per cent of women in tech say they have improved skills in a tech-related area by earning certifications. Half of respondents say they feel more confident when they have certifications, while a third feel they earn more trust and credibility among colleagues. The top three certifications women in tech hold are “Project Management,” “Agile and Scrum,” and “ITIL, IT Service Management.”