CompTIA pushes for more women in IT

CompTIA has recently released a new member community which aims to expand the role of women in IT.

The community, named Advancing Women in IT, aims to provide women with the competency and skills needed to have a successful IT career. They also want to inspire women to make IT their career choice. The community wants to be an information resource, provide mentorship and networking opportunities, develop member-driven initiatives and programs, and take an active role in legislation involving women and careers.

“Women have realised many breakthroughs in the workplace, but the truth is our progress has stalled in IT,” said Nancy Hammervik, Senior Vice President, Industry Relations, CompTIA.

She cited research by the National Center for Women & Information Technology which reveals that post-1991, when women made up 36 per cent of the industry’s workforce, female employment in the IT industry has been steadily declining.

“As someone who has spent nearly my entire career in the high-tech industry, I’m acutely aware of the gender gap,” Hammervik said. “CompTIA is committed to doing its part to raise awareness of the valuable role women can and do play in our industry and to effect change to bring more women into our ranks.”

Members include women working in the IT industry, women seeking IT careers and men who support the mission of diversifying the IT workforce.