The gender gap in tech: the coding industry

From stereotyping in infancy, research suggests that women are indirectly pushed away from the idea of working in the coding industry. A report by PwC found that 26% of female students say a reason to not pursue a career in technology is that it is  ‘too male-dominated, causing a massive gender gap. 

Diversity in a workplace makes for a stronger workforce and there is still work to be done when it comes to the gender gap in the tech industry.

 

Why We Need More Women That Code?

Having a gender-diverse team leads to making superior business decisions 87% of the time. With only 26% of the workforce in the tech industry being female, the gender gap in the tech industry is proven.  

Women make great coders. A career in coding is more creative than some might think, and women have a natural skill set that brings a unique strength to the tech industry. Women are excellent communicators, naturals at multitasking, and think outside the box. All of these are highly valuable for someone looking to start a career in coding and development roles.      

The increase of women developers in coding roles will inspire the future generation to follow suit. It will no longer feel too male-dominated and will combat gender stereotypes. Women entering this industry are making a difference to be proud of. 

With a multitude of networking events and forums, you are always surrounded by like-minded individuals looking to close the gender gap in the tech industry. There are plenty of experts in the industry willing to offer help and advice to boost your knowledge. 

 
Women Who Code

Maigen Thomas left her flight attendant role as she looked for a career that made her feel fulfilled. 

“Taking the leap was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I knew it was going to be scary and difficult, but I did it anyway. I am so thankful, every day that I did, because I wouldn’t be doing what I love right now if it weren’t for that decision.” 

Victoria’s Secret model turned coder, Lyndsey Scott, wants to encourage other women into the industry.  

“I wish more people understood that diversifying tech is crucial to its continued success.” 

Tracy Pound, the Managing Director at Maximity, talks about the importance of diversity in the tech industry. 

“It’s not a box-ticking exercise to say we have an equal number of men and women. It’s about diversity of thought, it’s about bringing a different engagement level when it comes to team building and different skills from different types of people.” 

 

What We Are Doing to Close the Gender Gap in Tech?

At Learning People, we are passionate about promoting diversity within the coding industry. We commonly use our platform to spread awareness of the gender gap in the tech and coding industry and also participate in events dedicated to the same cause, such as the Women in Business EXPO. 

We offer career advice for women looking to get into technology. Our students receive exclusive support from our Career Services team to get them ready for their dream role in the industry. We provide unique insights into their chosen job market and offer advice on the job application process. You can find out more about the student support we offer here.  

Why Work in the Coding Industry?

As the tech industry continues to grow, developers are in high demand meaning you can find amazing job opportunities all over the world.  

Versatile Industry

Entering a coding role is the perfect opportunity to find your place in an innovative industry and to make a meaningful impact on society. Software and applications are constantly being developed to support all kinds of projects, and it is always exciting for those involved. With roles available across the health sector and education to fashion and sports industries, you can find a role in technology that is suited to your passions. 

Flexible Opportunities

Learning to code enables you to fit your work around your lifestyle. With the demand for developers both in-house and in agencies, it is easy to find an organisation to suit you. There’s also the possibility to build your own clients and become a part-time or full-time freelancer, meaning you manage your own time and can work remotely.  

Generous Salaries

It’s no secret that there are opportunities to earn extremely generous salaries in a coding role and the more experienced you become, the more you will earn. Junior developers with minimal experience can earn an average of over £25,000 whereas highly experienced coders and team managers can earn around £70,000+. 

 

No two days are the same in the tech industry. Coding will bring a new challenge and opportunity each day and, due to the ever changing technology landscape, you will be continuously learning and innovating as you’re working. This is only boosted by the community which coders have created and can only get stronger when the gender gap in coding begins to shrink.  

 

Want to help combat the gender gap in tech revolution? 

It’s important to do your research to get a clear idea of the coding roles that interest you and the languages you’ll need to get you there. Our expert career consultants are dedicated to identifying the best course for your experience and career goals to make this process easier. 

Our full stack web developer course gives you the tools to become a coding expert from any level. You’ll learn both front-end and back-end development including HTML, CSS, Javascript, Python and SQL. It’s a great course for someone to get an overview of what it is like to be a developer and is completely project-based, meaning you start building a portfolio whilst you’re still studying. 

Past student and woman in tech Charlotte enrolled on the full stack web developer course and landed her first job soon after beginning the course. 

“There were free online courses you could do but they didn’t give you the full depth that the Learning People course does.” 

If you’d like to see where learning to code could take you, explore our full stack developer collection or have a chat with our expert career consultants about how to start or expand your dream coding career.