The technology sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. But it is also one of the youngest as well. Technological advancements have been happening for all of human history. But the modern tech sector, as we know it, is relatively fresh. Attributed to the invention of microchips and mass production.

And it is showing no signs of slowing down. Technology is advancing at a rapid pace. The internet is less than 30 years old. Yet it has become one of the most important pieces of tech on the planet. VR technology is advancing. Self-driving cars and solar panels. You could argue we are living in the future.

But getting into the technology sector can be daunting. Especially if you’re a woman. Famously this industry has been a bit of a boys club. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk. All great men, but it points to the problem that the industry isn’t as welcoming to women. But has this changed in recent years? Is the tech sector as male-dominated as it once was?

Changes in Education Systems

A lot of schools used to skimp on their technology education programs. But as the tech sector has improved so has the quality of technical education provided in schools. A lot of schools now offer engineering classes, coding classes and prioritize these over more outdated subjects such as geography.

But there has also been an increasing trend towards encouraging female students to engage in these fields. A lot of schools in America often bring in women who work in STEM fields to talk to young women. To encourage them to pursue a career in tech or science and battle against the adversity they will face. All of this means we have seen a sharp increase in the number of women working in tech.

More Diverse Hiring Policies

The biggest problem facing women used to be hiring policies. A lot of companies were boys clubs and would tend to hire men over women, even if those men were less qualified. But this has changed in recent years as people become more socially aware.

A lot of companies have made sure they have completely transparent hiring policies. This includes including more women in the hiring process and avoiding questions of gender when auditing CV and resumes. Companies like ComputerCareers have been advocating for companies to hire more women and not discriminate based on gender.

But even with these policies in place, a lot of companies are fighting back on it. You can go anywhere online and find thousands upon thousands of women who have been snubbed, ignored, or belittled during the hiring process, or even after they were hired.

Is the Tech Sector Less Male-Dominated?

So has the tech sector become a welcoming and safe place for women to work in? Not entirely. As it stands right now only 19% of the tech sector is made up of female staff. But this is a huge increase over what it was only a few years ago. But there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to create real and lasting change.

But, as education improves and more women are empowered to pursue a career in tech, we will see that number start to rise sharply over the next few years. We have already seen women breaking the mold and leading in the field of innovation. And this will cascade into inspiring younger women into following in their footsteps.