Decline of women in tech down to UK school system

Juliet Moran has worked in tech since the late 90’s but says in recent years she’s seen the number of women following careers in the sector drop.

She believes the gender bias in schools is stopping girls from taking more of an interest in STEM subjects and claims educators need to be doing more to encourage them.

Currently, just 26% of people working in technology are women and there has been a steady drop in the number of female STEM university graduates. 

They’ve fallen by between one and two per cent every year since 2016. 

Only 19% of those taking tech-related bachelor’s degrees in Europe are women, and only 23% of those end up in tech roles. 

Juliet, Technical Director at TelephoneSystems.Cloud believes the UK should be doing more to encourage girls to follow STEM subjects at school and into further and higher education.

If they fail, she believes businesses will miss out on an incredible pool of talent who currently see no future for themselves in the tech sector.

Juliet said: “When I went to University over twenty years ago, I was considered a rarity in tech, but at the time the industry was only just starting to take off. However, my course was still 40% women. I hear stories now from female graduates that they were the only women on their courses.

“Representation is far worse now and it feels to me like we’re going backwards and potentially missing out on a huge pool of talent.

“I think this boils down to schooling and girls feeling they aren’t capable, otherwise, we’d see more women choosing to do degrees in the field. 

“I’d love to employ more women, but 99% of people applying for jobs at my company are male, and there must be a reason.”

Addressing the shortfall, Juliet says that schools lack a serious basic understanding of technology, which is holding back female pupils. 

Currently, under 25% of teachers report that they have never received initial or ongoing training in using technology, and under half of pupils have access to an iPad or laptop. 

She added: “Despite the fact technology is ever-present in young people's lives, a lack of investment in hardware and teacher training is a huge barrier to supporting learning about technology. 

“Schools lack a basic understanding of technology, and pupils are not being taught the fundamentals of why tech is important or being shown the possibilities of a tech career.

“As a mother with a daughter going through education, I see how girls are at a bigger disadvantage and are not pushed towards STEM subjects.

“Unfortunately, sexism in the industry starts at a young age, and more needs to be done at school to help girls engage with the idea of a career in technology.”