Most women say online work offers more chances for tech careers success – survey

29 Apr 2013

Online work provides more opportunities to succeed in technology careers over traditional on-site work, 74pc of women said in response to a recent survey.

Online work platform Elance surveyed 7,000 global independent professionals. The results reveal many women today are seeking careers that can provide them career satisfaction and with the freedom to set their own priorities, including work-life balance.

In fact, according to the survey results, 60pc of women said online work enables them to easily manage their personal and professional lives.

Sixty per cent of women also said online work is easier than competing for a full-time job, allowing them simple and realistic opportunities to work with multiple clients.

Sixty-five per cent of women who work online said the diversity of projects provides them with more learning opportunities and helps strengthen their skill sets.

“For women in tech, online work is a level playing field where merit and results win,” said Fabio Rosati, CEO of Elance.

“Online work provides an attractive avenue to neutralise gender discrimination around the world and create flexible professional opportunities not available in traditional job markets.”

How to close the tech sector gender gap

The women who responded to the survey also addressed the gender gap in the tech sector, with more than half (55pc) saying a key factor in closing this gap is receiving more inspiration from parents and teachers at a young age.

Sixty-six per cent of women cited equal pay for men and women with the same skill sets would help narrow the gap, 49pc said dispelling the stereotypes that boys are better than girls in math and science, and 47pc cited mentoring support for women and seeing more women as technology role models.

Despite the barriers, 80pc of women remain optimistic about the future success of women in technology, with 32pc saying they are extremely optimistic.

Woman working image via Shutterstock

Women Invent Tomorrow is Silicon Republic’s year-long campaign to champion the role of women in science, technology, engineering and maths

Tina Costanza
By Tina Costanza

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic. She came to Ireland from Canada, where she had held senior editorial positions at daily newspapers in Ottawa and Toronto. When she wasn’t saving dangling participles, she was training for 10K races or satisfying a craving for scones.

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