Women In Tech Feel Sidelined All Over The World, But India Might Be Doing Slightly Better

Part of the movement to get equality for women also involves improved representation in jobs hiring. The tech industry is one that's particularly guilty of sidelining women, and that realisation reflects in the sentiments of women in tech, who want their companies to do more.

Reuters

Booking.com conducted research regarding the tech industry and its diversity across the world, and it seems female tech entrepreneurs and engineers in India might actually be slightly better off than their global counterparts.

A massive 75 percent of women in tech in India think gender diversity is the industry's top priority. In addition, only 26 percent think their company does not hire or promote enough women, as compared to the global average of 54 percent. It's still clear however that, despite a few existing efforts, tech companies still need to do more to nurture female talent, both of new entrants and veterans in the field.

For instance, 83 percent of women entering the field of tech believe that taking a break could badly torpedo their careers, whether that's maternity leave, a job change, or otherwise. An overwhelming 87 percent believe the industry needs to actively do more to support their reintegration into the workforce. Experts believe that focusing their efforts in this direction could actually yield some great results with regards to companies attracting talent.

In order to boost their chances, a lot of women forced to leave the industry for a while also take the time away to focus on up-skilling, with 45 percent of them believing it's essential for their success. More so, these women also want to have some level of support when they return to their profession, with 88 percent saying their companies helped by aiding them in updating their technical skills. This number is also the highest anywhere in the world.

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"Driving greater gender diversity in tech is as much about unearthing untapped talent as it is about supporting women who have already built the skills, knowledge and expertise in our sector," says Gillian Tans, CEO of Booking.com. "Over the last ten years there have been significant changes to drive positive progress towards making the tech industry a more gender diverse place to work. We need to make sure that we continue this momentum. Companies that prioritise inclusivity at every level and tap effectively into the existing talent pool as well as encouraging new talent will continue to grow and thrive."

Women are well aware of the positives they bring to the workforce as well. Around 90 percent believe more women among company employees leads to more flexible HR benefits as well as an improved work environment. They also believe it contributes to a brand's reputation as one that supports gender equality, and inspires more trust from the general public.