ICT workforce needs change and diversity: PRA

Australia still needs to do more work in the field of retaining a diverse cross-generation and mixed gender workforce, according to Australian ICT recruitment industry authority, Professional Recruitment Australia (PRA).

It claims Australia is lagging behind on a global scale, especially with organisations around the world developing new programs to retain and advance women in the ICT workforce.

In a recent interactive discussion panel in Sydney, Diversity and Changes in ICT, the Australian Computer Society and PRA deliberated the benefits of equal opportunity for women and cross-generation staff in workplace programs.

“Diversity in the ICT industry increases employee effectiveness by attracting and retaining the best talent. It improves morale and increases market responsiveness,” PRA director, Matt Gordon, said.

Gordon said as Australian organisations focus on strategies to maximise performance and in response to the increasing ICT skills shortage, there needs to be more support in efficiently attracting and retaining the best talents.

Panel discussion facilitator, NSW Women Board of Australian Computer Society chair and Right Management talent management consultant, Yu Dan Shi, said businesses that have adopted forward thinking practices experience a diversity of culture, as well as ideas and innovation thrives.

“With women making up 23.5 per cent of the total Australian ICT workforce, organisations in Australia should invest time and effort to retain this demographic.

“Current enrolment in ICT courses is generally down, with only 10 to 15 per cent of females. Further aggravating this phenomenon is the pay gap between genders,” Yu said.

PRA attributed the AMP/NATSEM Income and Wealth report, which showed pay inequity places women at a considerable disadvantage as compared to men.

It said that a 25-year-old man is likely to earn a total of $2.4 million over the next 40 years, more than one-and-a-half times the $1.5 million prospective earnings of a woman.

PRA encouraged organisations to pursue strategies that ensure they attract and retain the best talents from cross generation and mixed gender in order to eliminate the issue of a skilled shortage.

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