Low female representation in the technology sector is not new. A study by Laboratoria in alliance with the IDB Lab shows that only 25% of the world’s IT professionals are women. This data reflects the limited approach that women have to IT careers.
The global economy’s growing dependence on technology has meant a greater demand for IT professionals in Latin America, and a great opportunity for women to join a stable and growing field. As reported by IDC, the Latin American information technology market grew 8.5% in 2021 and 9.4% in 2022, and by 2023 it is expected to reach 12 % growth. But Latin America has not been able to supply the digital workforce to support this growth. According to Page Group, 48% of open IT positions cannot be filled due to lack of professionals.
In data centers, the talent gap is even more acute. Forecasts from the Uptime Institute estimate that by 2025, Latin America will need at least 21,000 more data center professionals, from electrical and mechanical engineers and operational technicians to infrastructure control and monitoring specialists. Pair that with UNESCO data that shows that Latin American women currently represent 35% of students enrolled in STEM careers, but only 3% of them opt for careers in IT. The opportunity is ripe for women to play a key role in meeting Latin America’s need for data center professionals.
But what needs to happen to motivate more STEM students and graduates to pursue careers in IT?
The obstacles for women in technology
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Women’s Forum ambition is not one of those obstacles. A 2022 report stated that, while women in tech appeared to be more ambitious than men (with a greater number planning to seek promotions in 1-3 years), they were also more likely to turn down job offers. Research shows that 60% of women in technology have turned down roles due to caregiving responsibilities, compared to 45% of men.
But caregiving responsibilities aren’t the only factor at play. According to the Laboratoria study and the IDB Lab, there are eight obstacles influencing the opportunities women have to access and develop a career in technology:
-
Current limitations of the education sector.
-
The restrictive impact of gender roles.
-
The socialization of stereotypes, and unconscious biases regarding the performance of women.
-
The lack of equality in the distribution of domestic tasks.
-
The absence of role models.
-
Constant employment discrimination.
-
Work environment that hinders professional growth.
-
The belief in the neutral gender strategy.
The role of the industry
At Vertiv, we see an opportunity to bring women into this industry, which would simultaneously help solve the talent crisis and have a positive impact on diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
At Vertiv, the need for specialized talent fueled by our growth is well known. Between 2020 and 2023 we have opened 1,278 vacancies in our Latin American operations, in cities such as Mexicali, Reynosa, Tijuana and Monterrey in Mexico; Sorocaba and Sao Paulo in Brazil; Bogota and Medellin in Colombia; Santiago in Chile; Lima in Peru; and Buenos Aires in Argentina. And welcoming more women would be an ideal way to help fill those needs.
Despite the challenges, there is also a growing awareness and effort by the IT and data center industry to promote diversity and implement initiatives that foster the inclusion of women in IT-related fields, for instance, providing education and training programs in areas such as computer science, software engineering, and data management, and including women in learning and professional development programs.
As an example, in Latin America, Vertiv has implemented mentoring programs for women who are already part of the company, supported by both male and female directors who share their experiences and insights on relevant skills. This not only builds a network of contacts for the women in the program, but helps them to build critical skills and to act as role models for other women in the industry.
For more information on the challenges and opportunities for women in the industry, you can visit DC4Women, a space dedicated to this initiative.
