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Women in ICT today

Women in ICT today. A UK Perspective Bill Taylor Senior Policy Advisor, CWU UNI ICT Forum Ljubljana 26 th 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.

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Women in ICT today

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  1. Women in ICT today A UK Perspective Bill Taylor Senior Policy Advisor, CWU UNI ICT Forum Ljubljana 26th September 2007

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. CWU communications

  12. CWU communications

  13. 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

  14. Women in ICT • Questions ?

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