Statistically and historically speaking, the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have been dominated by men.
Today, that is still very true, though there is starting to be a trend of more women in business, STEM, cybersecurity and other computer-based skills thanks to women involved in these fields.
Diversity of all types has repeatedly proved to improve business fluidity and increase bottom lines, and women in STEM fields is no different.
There are not too many silver linings with Covid-19, but the opportunities to grow are more abundant than in the past, and many people have a little bit more time on their hands.
With that in mind, whether someone is a woman who has always been interested in STEM, a parent who wants to get their own daughters more exposure or an employer who thinks it is about time to see more females in the field, the time for more women in STEM is now.
Education
Though not affecting the immediate future, initiatives in STEM for young girls are becoming more and more popular.
In the US, Girlstart is a volunteer organisation that provides informal STEM education to interested female students and helps raise money to send girls to events like the annual Girls in STEM conference.
There are many similar STEM programmes that help introduce and educate girls in these fields.
When it comes to secondary education, a proportion similar to the workforce exists.
Only about 30% of STEM degree holders are women, but programmes like Million Women Mentors exist to help guide young women into degree programmes in STEM and also provide resources to help them along the way, both academically and professionally, as they enter the male-dominated workforce.
For women considering a career change to a STEM field, online education has never been easier to come by, and many job shadowing opportunities exist, too, though slightly different now with Covid-19 lockdowns.
Present snapshot
Regarding the present and immediate future, companies should take this time to evaluate their staff demographics and encourage anyone, especially women, who want to make a lateral move to a STEM position to do so.
Certainly, training will be needed, but statistics show that the long run is better suited to a more diverse workforce.
Women in collaborative teams and leadership roles consistently perform better than their male counterparts, and though underrepresented in STEM, the outcomes are the same.
With societal pressure and statistical proof that diversity is good for the bottom line, staffing personnel should be looking to make changes, and women with interests in these positions should be approaching management and applying unapologetically.
Emerging fields
A great STEM path for anyone to take is in cybersecurity. Estimates say that by next year, the growing cost of cybercrime will hit US$6 trillion and will bring with it 3.5 million new jobs in cybersecurity.
That may even be a bit conservative on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many businesses that have moved to remote work are finding it beneficial for many reasons.
A lot of employees are happier, there is less cost for travel and zero cost for office time.
With these things in mind, the security of online markets and closed networks is more booming than ever.
As at 2018, only 11% of cybersecurity jobs were held by women. With that large disparity and the upcoming wave of cybersecurity jobs, there are countless advantages for women who want to pursue a STEM career to look very closely at the fields revolving around cybersecurity.
This article first appeared in The New Savvy
The New Savvy is Asia’s leading financial, investments and career platform for women. Our bold vision is to empower 100 million women to achieve financial happiness. We deliver high-quality content through conferences, e-learning platforms, personal finance apps and e-commerce stores.
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