Over the past year, we have seen an impressive amount of progress. Businesses and the IT industry have had to adjust to the new normal brought on by remote working, digital transformation and other advancements. Almost every organization globally has recognized the benefits of investing in customized, cutting-edge technology solutions. Going forward, we must be mindful of our personal responsibilities in building a digital economy that works for all.
The digital economy is defined as a society that generates economic activity through digital solutions. In the last few years, there has been a rapid growth in the digital economy, largely due to the advancement of hyperconnectivity. This has led to an increased reliance on technology across all age groups, industries, organisations, devices, data and processes.
As technology continues to develop and evolve, the number of tech jobs is set to increase rapidly. This presents a great opportunity for governments and corporations to invest in a diverse workforce. Having worked for a company that has benefited from having a team with a range of backgrounds and viewpoints for over 10 years, I believe there are some measures that could be taken to address this issue.
Meaningful Contextualization
It is not unexpected that there is a continued lack of diversity in the IT sector. According to Google’s Diversity Report, in 2023, 73% of their tech staff were male, 5.5% were Latino, and only 3.5% were Black. Additionally, there are less than 30% female employees in technical roles at major tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Facebook. There is still a substantial absence of women, people of colour, and Latinx people across the industry.
We must identify and remove the barriers that make computer jobs inaccessible to large numbers of people, so that we can bring a more diverse range of people into the digital economy. What I am suggesting is a change of approach and attitude when it comes to finding and retaining high-level technical expertise; not just empty promises or scholarships.
Boost Your Talent Acquisition Methods
When starting your recruitment process, it is essential to ensure that your job postings are written in a professional and welcoming tone. By taking a proactive approach to diversity, you can demonstrate your commitment to fair hiring. If possible, consider using psychometrics and artificial intelligence in order to add an extra layer of dynamism to your recruitment efforts.
It is encouraging to see that the IT industry is embracing opportunities to hire people from underrepresented groups. Remote working has been around for some time, but the current pandemic has brought further understanding and appreciation of it. Technological advancements have enabled a range of prominent businesses to offer full-time remote working options, plus there are many other benefits to be had.
Talent shortages are a major issue in many areas, particularly in IT, and this can cause difficulties for businesses. To address this, it is important to consider the option of hiring remote employees, which can help to widen the availability of suitable candidates. Having undertaken a great deal of work managing distributed teams, I am confident that we should embrace diversity in this way.
Let’s Have a Discussion About It. A lot.
It is essential that we have a meaningful dialogue regarding diversity in the tech industry at this present time. Merely having conversations is not enough to bring about the necessary changes; we must work together to ensure that the digital economy is accessible to all. Therefore, I believe it is of utmost importance for you and all other IT employers to prioritise diversity as a core business strategy.
It is essential that organisations create their own strategies to improve diversity. However, by raising the profile of diversity in the business world and encouraging open dialogue, it can help to make it a priority and ensure that members of minority groups are heard. This can not only set a higher standard when it comes to diversity, but also help to attract a more diverse range of applicants.
Sharing information about your organisation’s commitment to diversity can also have a positive effect on internal operations. It is important to demonstrate to employees that their individual differences are valued and respected before expecting them to be open and honest about them. For more information on this topic, please read the accompanying post.
It Depends on Each of Us
The IT sector is currently undergoing an unprecedented period of growth, and there is a clear need for an increased number of tech professionals. This presents an opportunity for all businesses to commit to more comprehensive diversity programmes, in order to address the concerning diversity figures that have long been present in the nation. We must ensure that the digital economy of the future is fully inclusive, and the necessary steps must be taken to achieve this. Although further action may be needed, pursuing a win-win strategy is always the correct course of action.
