Industry news

'More female workers needed' in the IT industry

Women should be encouraged into a career in the IT arena, one industry body has said.

It has been revealed by the British Computer Society (BCS) that there is a distinct lack of females working in the sector, which suggests the problem goes back to schools where the subject is not given enough attention.

The trade body for people working in IT believes that a career within the industry can provide women with a wide range of opportunities and rewards.

Jan Peters, manager of the BCS Women's Forum, has called for teaching professionals to help encourage young girls to consider IT as a viable career path. In 2004, women made up just 14 per cent of the BCS membership.

She added: "We need to be encouraging girls to look at a broader selection of apprenticeships, so we are not just looking at people going into IT and computing through degree route, but through the whole spectrum."

"We need to get across to young girls that there are opportunities in IT. It is about appealing to women from a young age."

Meanwhile, the BCS said last week that it expects to see a rise in the number of calls for IT assistance due to an ageing population and a society that is growing ever more reliant on IT.