Study Men become interested in tech careers earlier than women

Study Men become interested in tech careers earlier than womenStudy Men become interested in tech careers earlier than womenMen express their interest in tech careers sooner than women, and are more likely to remain in the field for the long haul, according to a new report.Global professional recruitment firm and IT outsourcing service provider Harvey Nash Inc. surveyed 658 men and women in tech and found that 46% of male respondents became interested in a tech career by the the time they were in high school or college - compared to 41% of women during that time period, according tothe 2017 Harvey Nash Women in Technology report.The divide widens the earlier you go 20% of men surveyed said they were interested in tech in elementary and middle school, more than double the number of women who were, or only 9%.More men said they got interested in the world of IT through a STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering, Math) track, with nearly three times as many men as women studying engineeri ng before getting a career in IT, according to the findings,which were produced in partnership withARA, which Harvey Nash sponsors.The visibility and value of a STEM education has skyrocketed in the last decade, but were not yet seeing the full impact translate to the IT workplace,Bob Miano,Harvey NashUSA President and CEO, said in a statement.School and home life can spark the first interest for technology, but individuals as well as companies need to take action throughout the lifecycle of IT careers to keep that enthusiasm alive Increasing and keeping women in IT is critical to meet the demand for tech talent in the midst of a permanent IT labor shortage, he said.The challenges of working in ITRegardless of when men or women enter the tech force, the findings show that employees struggle to feel appreciated at IT jobs regardless of their gender - 18% of men and 17% of women who quit their last job in tech did so partially to seek better balance.Thirty-four percent of those surve yed agreed that its harder to balance life pressures with a technology career versus another career choice, 38% thought the hours are too long, and 34% said there isnt enough flexibility.Still, the pressures continue to stack up for women in tech, as30% of women say that an unwelcoming environment to women and minorities is one of the greatest challenges in their field, compared to just 13% of men.Twenty-six percent of women said they worry they dont have enough confidence - more than double the 12% of men who think similarly.In addition, 43%of women said they faced a lack of advancement opportunities, compared tojust 26% of men, the study found.But there are ways to boost morale and representation of women in the tech industry.One solution lies in mentorshipThe majority of participants (69%) said encouraging women to go after tech careers in high school or college is the top solution to boosting the number of women in tech.But introducing mentorship programs to preserve the number of women who have already made their way into the industry, and keeping them moving up the ladder also emerged as one of the primary ways to improve tech overall, the study found.While 57% of women respondents whove had a mentor say having one was a help to their career, only 22% of all organizations and 28% large enterprise firms (with more than 1,000 workers) have formal programs in place to promote women in technology.Anna A. Frazzetto, Chief Digital Technology Officer SVP, Harvey Nash, said that employees should advocate for themselves - even if their companies arent willing or able to meet them halfway.Ask for what you want, but also dont be afraid to ask for help If you cant find the support you need at your own company, an engaged mentor or coach can provide a gut check to help you tackle skill gaps and hurdles, Frazzetto said, adding that the responsibility for mentoring employees should ideally fall to the company.