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Women in Tech Recommend Field to Others – But Many Question Job Climate

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – A new study from Women in Technology International reports that most women recommend that other women enter the technology business.

However, the survey also shows that a majority of female IT workers question whether their companies offer what WITI calls “favorable climates.”

Seventy-five percent of women in technology say others should go for tech careers. That seems pretty high, considering 52 percent question the business climate in which they work.

"There are two 'Big Ahas!' that emerge from this research," said Patricia Shafer, president of Compel Ltd. and co-author of the report with associate Barbara Trautlein. Compel worked with WITI on the study. "The good news, despite conventional wisdom, is that women are highly energized by technology as an arena where they can be creative and find meaning. The bad news - they don't necessarily perceive technology organizations as inviting places to pursue their futures."

The survey was conducted between December and March and included 1,985 responses.
WIIT and other organizations have been worried for years about the declining presence of women in the tech world.

"The number of available technology and IT jobs is projected to increase in the future, but the percentage of women in the IT workforce has declined significantly since 1996,” added Carolyn Leighton, WITI’s founder and chairman. “Insights into women's experiences in technology are guideposts for addressing the gap."

Frustrations are evident in the findings:

• 44 percent say women are less likely to participate in and lead large company initiatives

• 48 percent add that their views are not as acknowledged or welcomed as those from men

• 53 percent do describe themselves as “broadly influential”

• 45 percent don’t feel “in control of their careers”

• 73 percent de believe then can influence their bosses

• 46 percent said they do not or have never had a mentor at their current company

• 27 percent did report that their firms did have a formal mentoring and networking program in place for women

WITI will present a Webinar on May 29 to discuss the report.

For more details, see the WITI Web link.

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