Young tech workers don’t believe diversity initiatives are working, according to Wiley Edge’s research.
The training provider found that 10% of 18- to 24-year-olds working in tech claim that any efforts their employers are making to improve diversity in their businesses aren’t working, and 12% say diversity isn’t a priority where they work.
But 53% of employers claim they are actively working to increase the diversity profile of their technology teams.
Becks Roycroft, senior director of global emerging talent at Wiley Edge, said: “These findings highlight the importance of not only implementing anti-bias recruitment strategies, but also ensuring these strategies are communicated to existing employees.
“Doing this can make a big difference to the way young people perceive their employer and give them the reassurance they may need that improving diversity is indeed a priority for them.”
Industry, government and education providers are making ongoing efforts to address the lack of diversity in the technology sector, yet diversity gaps remain. BCS Stats 2020 Available 17% of technical staff are women, 8% of IT specialists are of Indian ethnicity, 2% are from a Black, African, Caribbean or Black British background and 2% are from a Pakistani or Bangladeshi background.
When it comes to reasons for this lack of diversity, many point to a lack of an inclusive culture Barriers to attracting and retaining diverse talent For the technology sector.
Some avoid the sector altogether because They don’t see others like them in technology roles or Don’t consider their skills good enough For sectors, and in some cases people are already over in the industry Leaving due to lack of inclusion. About 10% of technology employers believe their efforts to improve diversity in their teams have worked, and 9% believe their technology teams are already diverse.
The steps organizations are taking to advance diversity vary, with 40% saying they have invested in anti-bias training for managers, 88% of whom say it has improved diversity in their technology teams, and 38% when hiring requests for a diverse candidate list.
In terms of recruitment practices, 39% try to ensure job descriptions are neutral and 32% keep CVs anonymous so they don’t know the person’s gender or ethnicity when making decisions.
More than half of employers say these steps have led to significant improvements in the diversity of technology teams, and 37% say improvements have been made but more needs to be done.
Previous research by Wiley Age found that more than half of businesses struggle to recruit young people from diverse backgrounds, with many young Claims to have negative experience in the industryIn some cases they leave the sector entirely.
It is recommended Bad culture in the organization Young people were blamed for the poor experience, and more needed to be done to make up the shortfall Diversity and Inclusive Culture in the sector
Its current research shows that more than a third of young people have noticed efforts to improve diversity in tech teams, and 27% say that diversity practices are a focus for firms when hiring.