The IT Landscape for Women in 2016

Featured article Suzanne Vallance, Independent Technology Author

Statistics show that women make up 49% of the UK labour force, however, they account for just 17% of IT and telecom professionals. The IT world will only continue to grow.

By 2020, employment in all computer occupations is expected to increase by 22%, will females be included in this surge of IT employment? A-level computing has increased by 16% this year meaning that the younger generation is going to be well prepared for the future of digital.

To balance out the difference of male to female professionals it is important that employers give all of their employees’ equal opportunities and training.

With younger females taking interest into the IT sector it seems like there is a bright future ahead for female IT professionals, however, what will happen to the women who are already in the midst of their careers, what does the future of tech mean for them?

Female IT Statistics

The statistics for women in IT are not looking great with women only representing 17% of IT and telecom professionals. Whether it is lack of training in IT or lack of jobs then it is employer’s role to make women more interested in the IT aspects of their business.

The Guardian argue that is it time to forget the tired stereotypes IT professionals as “geeks”, which may be why many women do not want to progress with Tech roles. Leila Johnston, writer, and technologist-in-residence for the Happenstance project at Sheffield’s Site Gallery, believes that women need to be educated in IT:

“My role models were people who seemed to do whatever they wanted, without caring what anyone thought of them…It might just be this attitude that gives girls the push to not care about going against the grain.”

As the future of tech rises, this theory applies to all women, not just those who are starting out at university or school but those who are already in careers.

The Importance of ITIL Courses

We are living in the digital age and we cannot escape technology, no matter where we look. We are spending the majority of our working day engaging with computers and technology, in fact, we spend 444 minutes each day staring into screens!

Many businesses are beginning to adjust to this technological revolution and are evolving with the change. For a business to succeed in this current climate technology should make employees working day easier, not harder. That is why it is integral for your staff to really under the IT practices of your business.

Investing in a training program like ITIL courses  means that your employee’s workload will not only become more manageable but it could reduce support costs by 30%. ITIL training has the ability to educate your staff about the advantages of information technology, it will also give them the s resources they may need to be more organised, which effectively will lead to more functional roles in IT Service Management.

Get an ITIL Certification

Having the right skill set will get you far in your IT career. Link Alander has over 20 years’ experience in higher education technology management and is currently responsible for Lone Star College’s Office of Technology Services. Link believes that every IT employee should be trained in IT:

“Everybody on our staff is ITIL-certified at the Foundations level, if not higher. We focus heavily on IT service management, so everyone understands how to operate and be professional in the organisation.”

Keeping up to date with training is important and if you are part of a bigger organisation it is recommended that you are trained in IT Twice per year. Being trained in IT be beneficial to you and your employer as your skills  could improve your company’s efficacy over all due to better professional standards and results.

Why Employers Should Invest in IT Training

If you are at the other side of the coin and are managing under skilled staff, having staff that are trained will make your business more valuable. A 2015 survey has proven that seven out of ten respondents said that training and development opportunities which are relevant to their job role will influence their decision to stay with a company.

Giving your employees equal opportunities will make them want to stay at your business. Replacing new staff that are unhappy or undertrained will disrupt the flow of projects within your business. Therefore, giving your employees something back will be benefit you both.

Inspire Your Employees

Being a female in the IT industry can be tough as it appears many are losing out on opportunities to male candidates. Training female employees can be great for inspiring the next generation of female professionals.

Breaking up their time at your business will make them more productive as they will appreciate your effort in helping them expand their knowledge. Classroom training may seem like a great idea, however, organising can often be difficult as staff holidays and sickness can cause disruption.

The ITIL certification will allow your business to develop a single framework in which all IT projects can be run from. All of your IT staff can complete the course as it can be taken online which may suit their personal learning style and lifestyle needs.