“By teaching our girls to code, we’re not just preparing them to enter the workforce — we’re preparing them to lead it.” – Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization that aims to close the gender gap in technology
The technology industry is booming, but as of 2022 despite women being about 46% of the workforce, they only occupy 24% of computing jobs according to Women in Tech.
Built in NYC recently highlighted 4 women who share their experiences of being the only woman on a team. This is one of the challenges in the technology field right now, the pressure of being the sole female trying to make their voice heard in a room full of men who may not be listening. This could explain the reason that women leave the tech industry at a 45% higher rate than men. Is the tech industry making women feel welcome?
It Starts With STEM Education
Getting more women into the technology field means that more girls need to have access to STEM education in school (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Traditionally, girls outperform boys on tests in those fields of study, despite being discouraged from seeking jobs in those areas. [Source] On International Women’s Day 2022, the hashtag #BreakTheBias was used to help bring attention to the gender gap in STEM education. The American Association of University Women, AAUW, believes that STEM careers will help narrow the gender pay gap, while helping ensure women’s economic security and empower them. Women are needed to help find solutions for climate change, at this point we can’t afford to continue to exclude anyone from the conversation.
New York City Is Taking The Lead
In Summer 2022, Tech:NYC is partnering with the city to bring Tech Year NYC, a new project for students designed to expose New York City youth to job opportunities in technology. The program is geared toward high school juniors and seniors as well as college freshmen and sophomores, ranging from ages 16-26. It runs from July 5-August 12 so there is still time to register.
“Today, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment and Girls Who Code, Tech:NYC is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative, Tech Year NYC, which sets out to bridge the gap between local talent and careers in NYC’s tech sector.“
It’s Never Too Late To Learn
You may be thinking, “this is great but I graduated college a long time ago.” It’s never too late to learn a new skill, and tech is only going to continue to grow and offer more opportunities. The hybrid work model has now opened up more chances for women who are also caregivers. There is a wide network in the nonprofit group Women In Tech, which is committed to promoting gender diversity. The Women In Tech New York conference will be held on June 10th. To learn more about education and job opportunities, check out 18 In-Demand Technology Skills to learn in 2022.
