The UK is set to join in celebrations for International Women in Engineering Day, the awareness campaign that takes place annually on the 23rd of June. The Day’s main aim is to raise the profile of women in engineering and focus attention on the wide range of career opportunities available to females in this sector. 

However, research by PwC has found only 23% of people working in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) jobs are female. Their Women in Tech: Time to Close the Gender Gap report also revealed only 27% of women would consider a career in technology compared to 62% of males, while only 3% said it was their first career choice.  

Just 9% of female graduates in 2018 studied a core STEM subject, according to education campaign WISE. Meantime the number of women employed in the digital workforce has been hovering at around only 17% for the past decade. So, what more can be done to address this gender imbalance?  

It’s widely recognised the first step should be to focus on education, driving increased uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects among girls at school, college and university.  

Equally important, however, is finding new ways to attract more females into tech jobs. In practice, this means proactively sharing the immense variety and wide range of roles available – and showing exactly what they offer. This knowledge, it’s hoped, will inspire and enable more women to become tech recruits.  

While many women may not have even considered a career in software, research led by North Carolina State University computer science department suggests women write better code than men. Its researchers analysed 1.4 million users of an open-source program-sharing service and found pull requests – or suggested code changes – made by women were more likely to be used.  

IT and computing science are challenging and demand a high level of problem-solving skills – not only in FinTech but in areas as diverse as healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications and retail. However, this is also what makes these specialisms so satisfying.   

For developers, much of this job satisfaction comes from the mix of technical skills in writing code and the creativity in sharing it with the user. There are, however, many more reasons to consider software roles, including long-term job security and flexible working hours.  

While many positions in computer technology call for a degree or certification, learning and upskilling are often given on the job – so it pays to examine individual vacancies on x1jobs.  

Women who excel in IT and computing will not only be promoting gender equality in the tech sector but could also be helping the planet. Computer scientists are creating increasingly accurate climate modelling software, while developers who write more efficient code – with far fewer active cycles – help conserve energy. Such innovation protects the environment.  

The ethical side of tech roles is also integral to an initiative launched and backed by PwC, Royal Bank of Scotland and Morgan Stanley. The primary purpose of the Tech She Can Charter is to encourage businesses to collaborate and inspire more young women to pursue tech careers.    

  

Moving into the wider world of engineering, many employers note that beyond the necessary technical skills, women also bring heightened soft skills, especially in analysis, creativity and communication. To attract more women into their workforces, they’re taking proactive steps to encourage recruitment – whether through a sponsored academic path, graduate scheme, apprenticeship or offering immediate starts with on-the-job training.   

This should come as no surprise: when developing new products and services, teams with a more diverse range of gender, background and life experiences are more likely to be forward-thinking and generate fresh ideas.  

And did you know 80% of female engineers are either happy or extremely happy with their career choice, and 98% find their job rewarding, according to a survey by the Royal Academy of Engineering?  

UK companies are seeking female engineers not only to improve and maximise performance in current projects but to push the boundaries of what’s possible.   

Pioneering renewable energy projects require environmental engineers who can work effectively with those in the civil, mechanical and software sectors to make a zero-carbon future a reality.  

Britain’s high-flying aerospace sector, meanwhile, relies on many different aspects of professional engineering, which is why it boasts one of the most eclectic and versatile skillsets in the tech sector.   

Being tech-savvy is also an important part of sectors such as admin, HR and marketing – in this last sector going digital is key to selling through online channels, including social media, websites and mobile apps.   

A successful engineer needs to be able to communicate effectively. Typically, women are more diplomatic and empathetic, which is of great benefit when it comes to orchestrating teamwork on large engineering projects.  

And, because female engineers have made their career choice based on passion rather than practicality, they are more genuinely inspired by what they’re doing every day. Someone who is motivated daily by a love of their work is naturally better at it. 

So, if you’re a female fired up by International Women in Engineering Day, why not transform your own future right now by learning more about today’s job opportunities online?