My daughter is in her first year of college. She’ll be charting her career path in today’s workforce in just a few short years. My advice is finally hitting home as I’ve spent my professional life creating opportunity for people through career success. At TEKsystems, a global provider of business, technology and talent solutions, I lead our human resources team and corporate social responsibility strategy.
We’ve prioritized diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives because we believe they will continue to have a positive impact on the work experience. In fact, our recent study found that 96% of IT workers say their leadership makes it clear that DEI initiatives are a critical impact of company strategy.
IT is critical to examine the impact of these initiatives and the difference they’ve made in the workplace for women. I’ve seen the impact organizations can make when they intentionally build pathways for opportunity, create a sense of belonging, and advocate for women in the workplace. Something I hope my daughter will experience—no matter her career path. But with women currently making up just 25% of the IT workforce, it is no time to slow down.
Finding job growth in a volatile labor market
The labor market continues to fluctuate: Between an ongoing shortage of labor with the right skillsets for IT, to tech layoffs from the biggest names in the industry, to the lingering impact of the pandemic, it is hard to ascertain where the job market is headed and what that means for IT workers. Our study showed that while more than half of women in IT feel they have growth opportunities at their current workplace, it pales in comparison to the 89% of men who feel they have the same ability to grow at their jobs. It will be challenging to see dramatic changes in IT hiring given the high demand for and low supply of talent, coupled with how quickly companies move through the hiring process given immediate needs.Continue reading: https://qz.com/there-is-a-road-to-parity-for-women-in-tech-1850349503