SA businesses need to encourage women in tech
28 February 2023
Editor's Choice
South Africa is known for its diversity and progressive society, yet in the field of technology, there is still a significant gender imbalance. Women are under-represented in the technology industry, both in terms of employment and leadership positions. This is not only a missed opportunity for women but also for South African businesses. To remain competitive in a rapidly changing technological landscape, businesses need to cultivate and support women in tech.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) reported in 2022 that the percentage of female employees in the telecommunications sector had decreased by as much as 32,9%. This decrease was based on the reported number of women employed which dropped from 12 820 in 2020 to merely 8603 in 2021.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is commemorated on 11 February, and is the ideal opportunity for businesses in the technology sector to show its support of young women and also to consider how to motivate them to work in this challenging, yet rewarding, field.
One of the main reasons for the lack of women in tech is a lack of representation in the education system. From a young age, girls are neither encouraged to pursue careers in technology nor given the opportunity to develop skills in this field. In most technology classes at school level – Information Technology, Physical Science, Coding and Robotics, and Engineering Graphics and Design – males far outnumber the females enrolled. This leads to a shortage of women in the pipeline for technology jobs.
Another reason for the low representation of women in tech is the prevalence of gender bias in the workplace. Women are often undervalued and not given equal opportunities to advance in their careers. This leads to a lack of women in senior positions, making it harder for them to serve as role models and mentors for the next generation of women in tech, which simply exacerbates the problem.
Businesses need to invest in education and training programmes to help women develop their technical skills. This can include offering paid internships, sponsoring technical certifications, or partnering with local schools and universities to provide mentorship opportunities.
Businesses also need to work with the wider community to raise awareness of the importance of women in tech. This can involve sponsoring events, hosting workshops, and collaborating with other organisations to promote the value of women in the technology industry.
Cultivating women in tech is necessary, as they often bring different perspectives, skills, and experiences to the workplace, which can drive innovation and hopefully lead to a better business outcome.
Further reading:
Active event tracking using a novel new technique
Editor's Choice
SPAES (single photon active event sensor) 3D sensing, developed by VoxelSensors, is a breakthrough technology that solves current critical depth sensing performance limitations for robotics applications.
Read more...
ABB commits to a more inclusive future as it empowers women and youth in engineering
ABB South Africa
Editor's Choice
Through structured development, inclusive hiring, and focused empowerment, ABB Electrification is shaping a more equitable and dynamic future for the engineering industry.
Read more...
Unlocking the next frontier – women leading digital transformation in South Africa’s technology sector
Editor's Choice
As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, it is an ideal time to reflect on the critical role women are playing in shaping the country’s technology sector.
Read more...
Why GNSS positioning precision is enabling the next wave of IoT applications
iCorp Technologies
Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
While high-performance GNSS implementations are achievable with few limitations, most real-world applications must balance power consumption, form factor and accuracy requirements.
Read more...
5G RedCap: Unlocking scalable IoT connectivity
iCorp Technologies
Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
As 2G and 3G networks rapidly sunset across the globe, the Internet of Things (IoT) market faces a critical challenge: how to maintain reliable cellular connectivity without the complexity or cost of full 5G.
Read more...
Is RFoIP technology the future for signal transportation for Satcom applications?
Accutronics
Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
RFoF technology continues to be used for successful IF signal transportation in the ground segment and there is widespread belief that it will be for some time to come, especially for critical communications applications.
Read more...
Celebrating innovation, leadership, and the next generation
Rebound Electronics
Editor's Choice
In electronics and engineering, women are not just participating; they are transforming, innovating, and shaping the future.
Read more...
Women leading the charge in SA’s energy sector
Editor's Choice
While historically male-dominated, the energy industry is slowly but surely opening its doors to more diverse voices and talents.
Read more...
High performance SDR design considerations
RFiber Solutions
Editor's Choice DSP, Micros & Memory
As the spectrum gets increasingly crowded, and adversaries more capable, the task of examining wide bands and making sense of it all, while not missing anything, gets harder.
Read more...
Microtronix revives defunct cell phone plant
Microtronix Manufacturing
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
In a significant move for South Africa’s struggling electronics manufacturing sector, local technology firm Microtronix has breathed new life into a formerly defunct cell phone manufacturing facility.
Read more...
printer friendly version