Living in the 21st century has been significantly simplified by the use of technology. The advancements in this sector have been occurring on a daily basis, continuously pushing previously set boundaries. As many aspects of economic activity and markets are being digitalized, the exponential creation of novel opportunities has been more than apparent. Recent studies that have shown that by the end of 2020 here will be a shortfall of at least 700,000 ICT professionals in Europe.
Moreover, while these opportunities could and will severe for the fostering of economic growth, focus should also be placed on promoting the involvement of women in this sector. ICT sector in Europe consists of almost 8 million specialists of which only around 17% are women. European Centre for Development of Vocational Training predicts that the demand for STEM professionals will grow by 8% by 2025, meaning that this gender gap will become even greater.
Needless to say, boosting the engagement of women in this sector is a major opportunity, not only for the EU, but also for countries around the world. Needing more highly skilled employees, and women statistically being the majority of the population with completed tertiary education, it is only natural for women to fill these positions. Addressing this gender gap within the sector would be a great opportunity to examine and solve the existing pay gap as well, which has been a long-lasting issue of the EU. It would allow for women to enter jobs that are better compensated than those in sectors that are traditionally labeled as female sectors.
In the Western Balkan region, the gender gap in the sector is still quite prevalent and wide. Over the years, WB countries have implemented several projects which advocate for women’s further education in ICT, but also boost their involvement within the sector itself. For example, Serbia prides itself in having one of the highest rates of female involvement within the sector – out of 5 experts, 1 will be a female. Data for North Macedonia shows similar patterns, where 21% of their ICT sector is made up of women. Other WB countries demonstrate lower scores, but the trend has been increasing in the last few years.
An example of good practice which can be noted is the project implemented by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunication (MTTT) called “Girls in Technology”. It was developed in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia (AmCham Serbia) as a part of the country’s Program for Empowering Women in the ICT sector for 2019-2020. Its overall goal is to provide professional training to female students as well as to allow for networking and finding support from others prior to starting their career in the field. The program is intended for recent graduates or students in their final year of studies from two universities – University of Belgrade and the University of Novi Sad. Moreover, this program wants to include those who want to gain first professional experience, practical knowledge and get acquainted with business processes in successful companies. This is done with continuous mentoring from women who are currently in the field and have had years of experience.
Have you noticed such initiatives in your country which work with young women in the IT sector? Let us know down below.
