Wage inequality, workplace gender bias and a shortage of female role models are among the main barriers faced by women working in the technology field.
This is according to a new survey titled The Future Tech Workforce: Breaking Gender Barriers by global technology association Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). The study was conducted via an online poll among ISACA's female members worldwide. More than 500 individuals participated in the survey, which was fielded in November 2016.
The report, which coincides with International Women's Day today, identified the top five barriers experienced by women in the technology sector. Around 35% said their wages were less compared to male colleagues with the same skills 48% said they lack mentors, 42% lack female role models in the field. Another 39% said they had experienced gender bias in the workplace and 36% said there was unequal growth opportunities for women compared to men in the field.
"Women are vastly underrepresented in the global technology workforce. This is not only a societal concern, but also a workforce problem, given the critical shortage of skilled technology professionals faced by many enterprises," says Jo Stewart-Rattray, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, FACS CP, board director of ISACA and director of information security and IT assurance at BRM Holdich. "ISACA's survey findings reinforce that there is much work left to be done. By providing more opportunities, including career advancement programmes, we can make long overdue progress in ensuring that women are more equitably represented in the technology workforce."
Globally, pay disparity remains a challenge with 25% of respondents from Africa, 29% from Asia, 53% from Europe, 48% from Latin America, 60% from the Middle East, 42% from North America and 80% from Oceania reporting that male colleagues tend to be paid more, without a clear reason.
"As an industry, we must commit to changing these numbers and breaking down the barriers for women in technology," says Tara Wisniewski, ISACA's MD of advocacy and public affairs. "It is well past time to address these issues, and ISACA has a responsibility to help solve them."
When asked about opportunities for professional growth, 75% of respondents state their employer lacks a gender leadership development programme, notes the study. Additionally, eight out 10 women report their supervisors are male and only 8% report never experiencing gender bias in the workplace.
Women specifically want mentors, role models and strong networking opportunities. It's clear that women hunger to learn and benefit from the presence of other women in technology. But at the top of the list of barriers for women in the ISACA survey were "limited networking opportunities" and "a lack of a strong professional network," the report says.
Survey respondents represented a diverse range of industries, including financial/banking, insurance, public accounting, transportation, aerospace, retail/wholesale/distribution, government/military on the national, state and local levels, technology services/consulting, manufacturing/engineering, telecommunications, and more, says ISACA.
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