Technology is usually seen as a profession dominated by men. Yet a survey by specialist recruitment firm Robert Half shows a rise in the number of women in technology roles in Hong Kong.
According to the survey, 42% of companies have recruited more women into technology roles during the last five years. The survey was conducted among 901 Chief Technology Officers and Chief Information Officers (CTOs/CIOs) in eight countries. There were 100 respondents from Hong Kong, of which a third were women.
The trend is most noticeable in large companies with 500 employees or more, with 53% of companies increasing the number of women in technology roles.
In mid-sized firms—those with a headcount of between 50 and 499—42% have employed more women in technology roles. The lowest increase in female representation is in small firms, where only 30% report an increase in the number of technology professionals in their company.
Of the eight countries surveyed, the biggest gains for women in technology is in Australia, where 65% of companies employed more women in technology roles, followed by the United Kingdom with 52%.
The country where women technology professionals are struggling to make their presence felt is Japan. While 31 per cent of companies say they have employed more female technology professionals, 32 per cent of companies reported a decrease.
Response by country
| All Countries | Australia | France | Germany | Hong Kong | Singapore | Switzerland | UK | Japan | |
| Increased | 44% | 65% | 42% | 36% | 42% | 49% | 48% | 52% | 31% |
| Decreased | 18% | 14% | 21% | 14% | 18% | 19% | 20% | 14% | 32% |
| Stayed the same | 37% | 21% | 38% | 51% | 40% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 37% |
Ms Pallavi Anand, Managing Director, Robert Half Hong Kong commented, “Women are becoming more prominent in the technology sector, both in entry level positions as well as in middle and senior management roles. Women’s representation in technology is growing faster in large firms than it is in smaller companies. This may reflect the greater opportunities for technology professionals in big firms which often have substantial in-house technology teams.
“Smaller firms usually have a smaller in-house unit with many of their technology needs outsourced to other companies.”
CIOs and CTOs in Hong Kong believe the key to getting more women in technology leadership positions lies in the education system. When asked what initiatives would be the most effective in increasing female representation in the sector, 35% of CTOs and CIOs pointed to the need to increase the number of women enrolled in technology education courses. After education, mentoring is seen as the next best way to develop women technology leaders, nominated by 30% of respondents.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
