Vancouver’s tech sector has significant gender gap: report
Posted July 20, 2019 8:53 am.
Last Updated July 20, 2019 8:56 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The BC Tech Association says more needs to be done after a recent report highlighting the extent of the gender gap in Vancouver’s tech industry.
The report, from real estate services firm CBRE, ranks Vancouver last out of the 50 tech hubs it evaluated when it comes to gender diversity.
BC Tech Association president Jill Tipping acknowledges the sector has to do better at explaining what opportunities are available.
“We’re launching a whole series of programs in the fall around talent, we’re calling it Hyper Talent. It’s got a big focus on attracting women into tech careers and then helping them thrive once they’re there.”
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Just 18.3 per cent of the workers in Vancouver’s tech sector are women, and Tipping says companies also have a role to play, pointing to research indicating more diverse teams perform better.
“I think what we need to do is a better job of helping women understand what the work is, and how they can make a difference in the job. And once they understand that, they’re very attracted to it and they succeed well in a tech environment,” she says. “I’m confident that if we can come together as an industry and share those success points, share those practical tips from the people who are solving this problem well, then we’ll be able to do much better as a community.”
