The current situation of female human resources in the technology industry
The technology industry plays an important role in the development of the global economy, but it has been a field dominated by men for decades. Despite significant progress, the proportion of women in this field is still significantly lower than men. This is clearly demonstrated through the number of women participating in jobs related to science, engineering and technology, as well as the rate of holding leadership positions in the world's leading technology companies.
Statistics pointed out by CEO Today magazine show that women only account for less than one-third of the total workforce in the technology field. At large technology corporations, the number of women accounts for 29% to 45% of total personnel, but in leadership positions this number is much lower. Even when achieving important positions, women still face many barriers such as gender discrimination, lack of promotion opportunities and income gap.
One of the causes of this situation is inequality in education. According to CEO Today magazine, the percentage of female graduates in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is still limited. Of these, only 21.3% of computer science graduates are female, while engineering graduates are only 22%. This shows that right from the educational stage, women have had difficulty accessing key areas of technology, reducing their opportunities to participate in the labor market later on.
In addition, the issue of recruiting and retaining female workers in the technology industry is also a challenge. Some studies show that 65% of employers admit to having gender discrimination in the recruitment process. Meanwhile, 57% of women working in the technology, communications and telecommunications sectors said they intend to leave work within two years due to pressure, lack of support and promotion opportunities. In addition, the rate of women in the technology industry being laid off is also higher than that of men. This shows that injustices still exist and hinder the development of women in this field.
Not only facing difficulties in recruitment and retention, women in the technology industry also often endure invisible prejudices at the workplace. Many surveys show that women are often interrupted when speaking at meetings, assigned service tasks such as organizing events or arranging documents, while men often take on more important technical tasks. These small violations seem insignificant but create an unfair working environment, reducing women's confidence and motivation for development.
The absence of women in leadership positions in the technology industry is also a notable reality. In 2023, no female executive directors will head large technology corporations, and the proportion of women holding important positions such as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO) will only account for about 8 - 9%. This not only reduces women's access to leadership opportunities but also leads to the consequences of the next generation having difficulty having role models to follow, causing the gender gap in the technology industry to continue to be maintained.
More and more opportunities for women
Despite facing many barriers, women still have many opportunities to develop in the technology industry. One of the important factors that help promote the participation of women is the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology. These are new fields, opening up many opportunities for women to participate and learn, especially when there are more and more specialized skills training programs for women.
The 2024 report on women in the technology industry shows that 60% of women in the industry have not integrated AI into their work, but those who have applied this technology have recorded a significant increase in productivity. However, only 38% of young female employees in the industry are aware of the importance of improving AI skills, while this figure for men is 53%. This requires organizations and businesses to have specialized training programs to help women catch up with new technology trends, creating a solid foundation for them to develop their careers.
In addition, support from organizations and investment funds is also creating conditions for women to start a business in the technology field. However, a sad reality is that only 2.3% of total venture capital in 2022 will be spent on companies founded by women. This shows that female entrepreneurs still have difficulty mobilizing resources to develop ideas and expand businesses. However, a positive signal is that investors tend to support and invest in women-led companies, which can help narrow the financial gap and promote the development of technology enterprises founded by women.
In order to increase the participation of women in the technology industry, many initiatives are being implemented to improve the quality of STEM education for women. Schools and educational institutions are actively providing scholarships, consulting programs and introducing female models in the technology industry to encourage the younger generation to pursue this field. This not only helps women have more opportunities to access technology but also creates a more diverse workforce, promoting innovation and comprehensive development for the industry.
In addition, technology companies also need to build a more equal working environment by establishing unidedisional recruitment policies, creating conditions for women to participate in decision-making and supporting a balance between work and life. Leadership, counseling and sponsorship training programs for women in the industry also need to be implemented more strongly to help them have more opportunities to advance their careers.
The participation of women in the technology industry not only brings benefits to them personally but also contributes to the overall development of the entire industry. A diverse workforce helps promote innovation, improve work performance and create products that are suitable for more customers. Therefore, investing in women in the technology industry is not only a social task but also a smart business strategy to help businesses and the whole economy develop sustainably.
