One of the industries where the gender divide is most apparent is the tech sector, both globally and in Australia.
The IT industry has long been dominated by men, but with digital technologies becoming more prevalent in our lives and being leveraged across all industries, there’s never been a better time for more women to consider a job in the tech sector. Jobs of the future don’t exist yet: According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report, 65 per cent of children starting primary school now, will end up working in jobs that don’t yet exist. These newly created roles will be underpinned by digital technologies and require completely new skillsets.
The tech industry needs women: IT has traditionally been a “boys club” but it doesn’t have to be. In Australia, men accounted for 81 per cent of people with higher level STEM qualifications from 2010 to 2011, so there is huge opportunity for women to bridge the gender divide.