Less than one in five employees in the Belgian IT sector is a woman. This is according to a study by the recruitment agency Robert Half.

Almost 17.2 percent of employees in the Belgian IT sector are women. That’s according to a study by Robert Half, who specializes in recruiting across several service-oriented industries. In Europe, at 17.9 percent, things don’t look much better.

stereotype

Have you ever seen “The IT Crowd”? This is a British comedy series about two slightly socially disabled IT people who do their thing in the basement of the company they work for. Her manager is a woman who hardly knows the difference between a keyboard and a screen. It’s fiction, but unfortunately the series reflects the surprisingly widespread perception that still reigns about women and computers. This is of course completely unjustified.

For example, the same study found that a third of the women surveyed are keen to move into IT. It is clear that the sector suffers somewhat from certain stereotypes.

Big question

That’s a pity, because there is a great need for suitable staff with in-depth ICT knowledge. Almost every electronic device now has a smart version, there is the continuous rise and development of artificial intelligence and the automation of more and more industries. So there are many options.

perception changed

It is therefore important that more initiatives are launched to fill this gap. The FPS Economy already contributed to this last year with the #BeDigitalTogether digital project. This campaign was created precisely to get more women into the Belgian IT sector.

According to Sylvia Blockx, director at Robert Half, it all starts with the choice of major. Too few girls are currently attending a MINT course at school. STEM includes subjects and studies related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In other words, it is often an ideal step towards ICT. Too often, however, parents argue that this is “not for girls”. A perception that needs to change.

In the report, Robert Half emphasizes that mandatory quotas are not a solution. Each employee should be hired on the basis of competence and ability and it is particularly important that all have equal opportunities. Role models are also an important factor. This can be in the media or pop culture, but also in other areas such as politics or business. When all of these factors come together, numbers in a future report will no doubt be much more positive.