With the changing workplace dynamics in the post-Covid world, India Inc stands at an inflection point in its ability to not only sustain but drive women careers in Tech. Large technology companies are making substantial progress in increasing female workforce representation. However, a lot can be done further. The proportion of overall women workforce witnessed an increase to 32.9% in 2022, from 30.8% in 2019 and even the role of women in technical roles have grown to 25% in 2022 from 22.4 % in 2019. While we can take satisfaction from this increased participation, a lot can be done towards ensuring that women workforce is able to sustain in their tech careers.
There is still a large disparity between the percentages of women graduating with STEM degrees and their representation in the tech workforce. While nearly half of the total STEM graduates are women, only 14 percent of scientists, engineers, and technologists in research development institutions and universities are women. While many graduates start a career in tech, sadly a larger percentage of women graduates have not been able to sustain their careers. Organizations can play an important role in driving multiple initiatives that could help women workforce.
Upskilling and return ship programs
The post-pandemic technology acceleration has led to a demand of wide variety of technology focused skills in India. Upskilling has become the need of the hour for the young workforce and is the pre-requisite for empowering women to re-join the workforce. The World Economic Forum (WEF) and a growing number of analysts and think tanks have called for a “reskilling revolution” that can transform the future of work for women. Reskilling existing employees and those determined to return to work after a career break, is crucial in improving women representation in tech. Offering internships with an objective to reskill women with supporting factors such as transportation, subsidized food, and day-care reimbursements will be encouraging/motivational for women to return to work. Though such programs have seen limited success, whatever impact organizations can make go a long way in supporting careers for women who would like to re-join.
Continue reading: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/sustaining-women-careers-in-tech/
There is still a large disparity between the percentages of women graduating with STEM degrees and their representation in the tech workforce. While nearly half of the total STEM graduates are women, only 14 percent of scientists, engineers, and technologists in research development institutions and universities are women. While many graduates start a career in tech, sadly a larger percentage of women graduates have not been able to sustain their careers. Organizations can play an important role in driving multiple initiatives that could help women workforce.
Upskilling and return ship programs
The post-pandemic technology acceleration has led to a demand of wide variety of technology focused skills in India. Upskilling has become the need of the hour for the young workforce and is the pre-requisite for empowering women to re-join the workforce. The World Economic Forum (WEF) and a growing number of analysts and think tanks have called for a “reskilling revolution” that can transform the future of work for women. Reskilling existing employees and those determined to return to work after a career break, is crucial in improving women representation in tech. Offering internships with an objective to reskill women with supporting factors such as transportation, subsidized food, and day-care reimbursements will be encouraging/motivational for women to return to work. Though such programs have seen limited success, whatever impact organizations can make go a long way in supporting careers for women who would like to re-join.
Continue reading: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/sustaining-women-careers-in-tech/
