Only one fifth of women studying at degree level are currently thinking about pursuing a career working in data, a new study from Experian has revealed.
The research, which surveyed 1,204 UK consumers in education, found that most female students are put off because they do not think they have the right set of skills.
A staggering 48 percent suggest they had ruled out this career path due to a lack of confidence in science or maths.
There are some promising signs
Nonetheless, Experian’s survey showed that there is appetite amongst younger female students to learn more about careers in data.
Over two fifths (46%) of young women studying at further education level (such as A-Levels) say the curriculum should be updated so students learn how data and maths can address some of society’s major challenges, such as the climate crisis.
Many female university students also see the benefits of a career working in data. Among those definitely open to pursuing tech as a career path, 36 percent think that such jobs may pay more, while 30 percent say they have been inspired by someone they know working in the field.
However, education institutions and companies still clearly need to do more. Only 31 percent of women at degree level have noticed ads for data-related roles on social media.
Rachel Duncan, Chief People Officer at Experian UK&I, said: “The world is changing rapidly, and data is at the heart of this transformation. Career paths across a wide spectrum, from fashion design to sports coaching, finance, and marketing, now require an element of data engineering expertise. Demand for ‘data professionals’ has tripled in [the] last five years alone.
“Despite this trend, there are still barriers to overcome and government, education institutions and businesses need to work together to develop key skills and raise awareness about how a career working with data can offer a great career path for young people, from all backgrounds.
“The UK has an opportunity to be a world leader in data. By working on projects like Digdata we hope to be able to build confidence, enhance skills and generate more diversity in our workforce, embracing the opportunities that our digital economy presents and developing the next generation of talent.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
