Scottish business facing critical shortfall in female tech talent - PwC

Scottish and UK business are facing a serious shortfall in future female tech talent as too many young women are being put off pursuing technology careers, according to new PwC research.

PwC’s report Women in tech: Time to close the gender gap, which surveyed over 2,000 A level and university female and male students (including 125 Scottish university students), finds that only just over a quarter (27 per cent) of females say they would consider a career in technology, compared to 62 per cent of males.

Only 3 per cent of females say it is their first choice of career, versus 15 per cent of males.

PwC’s research reveals that the technology gender gap starts at school and get worse at every stage of females’ lives.

The females surveyed say they aren’t considering technology as a career option because they aren’t given enough information at school on what working in the sector involves and because no one is putting it forward to them as an option.

33 per cent of males say they have had a career in technology suggested to them, compared to only 16 per cent of females.

Six in 10 females (61 per cent) say they have been put off a career in technology as they simply don’t know what it involves, with only four in ten (44 per cent) males choosing this option.

Lindsey Paterson, partner and education sector lead at PwC in Scotland, said: “Women remain woefully underrepresented in the UK’s technology workforce.

“Our research shows that this imbalance is unlikely to be redressed any time soon unless we can educate and excite females about the range of technology careers at an earlier age. The gender gap in technology starts at school and widens at every stage of females’ lives.

“There is a real opportunity for the industry, schools and universities to work together to show young people - and especially females - the reality and range of technology careers in today’s world. We need to start creating the building blocks for the future of the UK’s technology industry at a much younger age.

“Getting more females into technology doesn’t just make smart business sense, it means that organisations can develop and deliver emerging technology solutions based on a broader range of perspectives that are fit for their entire customer base. Greater diversity of thinking will fuel the innovation of the future.”

PwC’s research reveals that a lack of visible female role models working in technology further exacerbates female students’ perception that the sector isn’t for them. Only 22 per cent of students can name a famous woman working in technology, whereas three times more (66 per cent) can name a famous man working in technology. The male role models are also suggested by far more students than each female role model mentioned, with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs the most cited technology role models.

The importance of role models is compounded by the fact that more than a quarter (26 per cent) of female students say they’ve been put off a career in technology as it is too male dominated.

Claire Reid, partner and Assurance lead at PwC in Scotland, said: “It’s worrying that such a low number of young females aren’t considering technology as a career option and this is largely because no one is putting it forward as an option to them. It’s hard for girls to aspire to what they can’t see - we need to shout louder about the great women already working in technology and work harder to promote more women to senior and visible positions.”

PwC’s research reveals that to encourage more females to consider technology careers, the industry needs to work closer with schools and universities to demonstrate how technology is being developed as a force for good. When considering their future careers, the females surveyed are more interested in feeling like the work they do makes the world a better place over salary or having a good work/life balance. Only interesting work ranks higher on females’ wishlist. Whereas, salary is the second most important factor for males - rated important by 44 per cent of males versus 32 per cent of females.

As well as wanting more information on what technology careers involve, both male and female students don’t feel they are learning enough at school about emerging technologies. Over three quarters (78 per cent) of students say the amount they have learnt about different types of technology at school is not enough, with 37 per cent of those students saying it is nowhere near enough.

Claire Reid added: “Like other technology organisations, we know from our own experience of trying to attract more women into technology roles that it takes focus and dedication to start to narrow the gender gap. Getting it right is such as fantastic opportunity for those in the technology industry to tap into a wider source of talent. If we can come together as an industry to solve this important problem we will have a far greater impact.

“From my own experience of working in the technology sector I have seen first hand the positive real-life impact technology can have on a wide-range of areas. Technology careers have evolved considerably over the past decade and we need to make sure that women play a greater role in shaping what they look like in the next decade.”

Lindsey Paterson added: “Highlighting the role technology plays in solving the world’s important problems could be the differentiator that sparks wider female interest in the sector.