Women in IT often find the scene more like a battlefield with barriers at every step. Skillsoft found that many IT women may quit next year. This massive migration could widen the tech gender gap.
This article examines the causes of this exodus, including why tech women are quitting.
The Big Three: Poor Management, Unequal Pay, and Lack of Inclusion
Skillsoft blames women’s tech dissatisfaction on poor management, unequal salary, and DE&I.
- Poor Management: Nearly a third of women wanted to quit due to poor management. Failure to lead can impede innovation, professional advancement, and workplace hostility. Women’s job satisfaction worsens when managers devalue or ignore them.
- Uneven Pay: Tech has a gender pay gap like other companies. The pay gap is unfair and demotivating, but the research doesn’t explain it. Women who feel underpaid for their skills and experience may leave.
- Lack of Inclusion: Though the Silicon Valley “bro culture” stereotype is fading, inclusivity remains a huge issue. Analysis showed 85% of women sensed gender imbalance in their teams. This lack of diversity might make women feel excluded. Unconscious hiring and promotion bias can also hurt women’s careers.
These three factors create a perfect storm, pulling women out of IT when their skills and views are most needed.
Impact of Limited AI Training
A lack of Generative AI training for women in tech is another Skillsoft concern. AI interested 41% of women, yet 60% never used it at work. Disconnection accentuates missed opportunity.
GenAI could alter various enterprises with AI. Lack of AI training for women limits company potential and innovation. The report also found that 63% of AI-using women lack training and resources. Lack of support can demoralize them and prevent them from adopting this powerful technology.
AI Diversity: Why Women Matter
Diversity is actually a creativity driver. Teams with varied perspectives can address complex problems more creatively. Without oversight, AI programs can become biased. Diverse, female-led AI development and deployment can be fair and ethical.
Skillsoft CIO Orla Daly says, “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.”
By embracing diversity and training women in AI, companies can innovate and unlock potential.
Taking Action: What You Can Do
Women’s exodus from IT should alert the sector. Companies must address Skillsoft reports:
- Invest in Inclusive Leadership: Diverse teams need trained leaders. Women in tech might feel more welcome with unconscious bias training and inclusive cultures.
- Close the Pay Gap: The gender pay gap must be examined often to ensure fair pay for equal work. Employee morale and trust increase with compensation transparency.
- Prioritize Diversity and Inclusion: A culture that supports diversity and inclusion is essential. To promote women in tech, companies should hire and mentor them.
- Train in Emerging Technologies: Train women in new technologies like AI to help them succeed.
- Build Support Networks: Women can flourish with mentors and sponsors.
Good News: Building a Brighter Future
Tech has advocates. Tech women can overcome these challenges and succeed:
- Build Your Community: Form a tech women community. Online communities, industry gatherings, and mentorship programs help. Community and empowerment come from sharing, learning, and advocating.
- Negotiate Your Worth: Never avoid discussing pay and perks. Research salary benchmarks for your position and experience to ensure fair pay. Attend negotiation sessions or obtain mentorship to improve.
- Develop Your Skills: Enhance Your Skills: Take advantage of online or workplace training. Learning AI and data science will increase your value and open new doors.
- Be a Changemaker: Make Change: Promote company change for a more inclusive IT sector. Mentor women, join diversity and inclusion programs, and fight bigotry.
- Know Your Worth: Leave a toxic workplace with no chance of change. Gender-friendly workplaces are being promoted by many companies.
Women in IT must overcome these barriers and create an inclusive, empowering atmosphere. The tech industry can maximize talent and innovation by removing barriers and prioritizing diversity and equity.
