Tech Sector Faces Brexit Skills Crisis
1 Million Women Needed in UK Tech to Reach Gender Parity
A report being released today by the Inclusive Tech Alliance reveals that the UK tech sector is likely to face an even greater skills crisis post-Brexit than anticipated if it fails to improve on the current levels of women working in the sector. One in three people working in UK tech originate from other EU countries. Analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that women account for just 16.8% of those employed in the tech sector.
The report highlights a number of key areas for the UK’s tech sector to reflect on and respond to, notably:
- There are currently .6 million unfilled tech vacancies and an existing gender deficit of .4 million women in the sector.
- With an additional 1 million new vacancies anticipated by 2020, close to 1 million women will need to be recruited in UK tech in order to reach gender parity.
- The differences in the backgrounds of women in tech leadership in comparison to men were also startling. Within the fastest growing firms, senior women were more likely to have attended independent schools and a Russell Group.
- Senior women in tech were also significantly less likely to have studied a STEM related subject at university.
The title of the report ‘A New Call to Arms’ is in reference to the period of mass mobilisation of women to the workforce during the Second World War. Inclusive Tech Alliance Members are now calling for a national campaign at the same scale of what was achieved for women in the workforce during the Second World War to avoid a post Brexit skills crisis.
Samuel Kasumu, Director of Inclusive Boards, the organisation who oversee the ITA and a member of the Prime Minister’s Race Disparity Advisory Board said:
“We have known for a long time now that there is a pipeline issue when it comes to encouraging women and girls to consider a career in tech. With the possibility of a post Brexit skills crisis; now is the time to focus minds and to tackle this challenge head-on.”
For further information or to arrange an interview with the Inclusive Tech Alliance about the new report, please contact Ieva Gruzdyte on 07702 814 609 or [email protected]
Please fill the below form to download the full report: