Talking Talent

It would be impossible to talk about labour shortages and not comment on the appalling lack of women in many of the high technology professions.  For example, a quick scan of almost any IT department, IT conference or vendor environment from the trenches to the corner office confirms that women who embrace technology as a life long career remain a rare breed.

There is no doubt that the opportunities for women in technology have advanced in the past few decades as have education initiatives aimed at leveling the playing field and attracting women into the industry. However for every woman rising to prominence or embarking on a career in IT or undertaking an IT course at university, as my daughter is, there is another opting out.

The number of women in the industry continues to decline and the reasons women give for leaving are the same ones I heard two decades ago; they are the micro inequalities such as wage discrimination, the boys club and the lack of work/life balance.