PUBLICATION:  ICT WORLD

DATE:  14 SEPTEMBER 2007

Sep 14, 2007

’Gender balance in the workplace is changing’ - Integr8 IT

The ICT sector has not always enjoyed the best reputation as far as gender equality is concerned. But this perception is changing - and quickly - say those operating successful businesses in the ultra-competitive world of IT.

There are more women entering the industry and being recruited into senior positions than ever before, says Robert Sussman, joint MD at Integr8 IT.

According to Sussman, this is an encouraging trend that bodes well for the sustainability of the industry.

"There is a definite need for more ICT-focused skills in the market and women are playing a critical role within initiatives established to address this need. The integration of fresh skills into the workplace and the increase in opportunities for individuals who may have been overlooked in the past, can only strengthen the industry," adds Sussman.

"At the same time, though, the suggestion that women are only now starting to impact on the industry is simply not true. The fact is that the industry has not always demonstrated the same level of appreciation or opportunity to women that are quite extensively afforded to men. The fundamental barrier being the serious misconception that men and women have differing capability regarding anything technology-based," he continues.