According to this year’s Skillsoft Women in Tech Report, which interviewed 1,100 women across the US, Canada, France, and the UK, women believe there is a disconnect between them and opportunities to grow in their career, with the main reason being a lack of training opportunities.
In fact, 32% of women worldwide reported to believe that not having access to training is the biggest challenge in their tech careers.
Whilst equal pay and work-life balance remain predominant challenges for women, the lack of access to learning and development tools is seen as another large barrier in women’s career growth.
Interestingly, the report found 34% of men working at home with children were given a promotion, in comparison to only 9% of women in the same position.
Women therefore see training as being vital to earning themselves higher positions in tech, and increasing their annual compensation. Certifications in women’s tech careers are important as 52% of women reported experiencing more responsibility, 34% earned a raise, 32% received a promotion, and 26% reported to have earned a bonus as a result. However, only 42% of women said that they were offered training opportunities by their employers.
Potoula Chresomales, senior vice-president of product management at Skillsoft, said: “Organisations around the globe are looking for ways to address their skills gaps, and in many cases, the answer lies within via their existing workforce.”
Almost 45% of women in tech said making career coaching, mentoring, and counselling available could make women more interested in pursuing a role within tech, and 41% said creating a more “equitable work culture” would tempt more women into the sector.
Chresomales added that, “women make up less than 40% of the global workforce, and for that number to increase, female employees must be empowered with continuous training, professional development and career advancement, as well as equal pay.”
Skillsoft concluded in their report that what women need from organisations is investment in the “upskilling, reskilling, and development of women in the workplace”. Stressing that “to recruit women and enable them for future success in tech, organisations must invest in development programs at all career stages.”
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