A recent study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and Break Through Tech revealed that women who are pursuing careers in the technical fields can benefit from using the services offered by their campus career center.
The study, titled "The Impact of Career Services on Women Pursuing Tech Careers," examines the current state of women pursuing careers in technical fields and suggests ways to improve outcomes for women.
The study shows that currently, women are underrepresented both in tech-related degree programs and the tech workforce.
According to the National Center for Women & Information Technology, women account for only 27% of the computing workforce.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that women make up just 22% of all computer science and information technology degrees, despite accounting for 58% of all bachelor's degrees conferred.
One of the study's key findings is that college career services can help level the playing field for women in tech careers.
Although undergraduate men receive more job offers than undergraduate women regardless of whether they use career services, the use of career services helps reduce the gap between the two groups.
When women with STEM-related degrees use career services, they receive more job offers than their male counterparts. In contrast, men earn more job offers when neither group uses career services.
Shawn VanDerziel, NACE's president and CEO, said that the study's findings indicate that career services play an essential role in helping women succeed in starting their careers in the technology sector and in helping tech companies build inclusive workforces.
The study also identified best practices to address the challenges faced by women pursuing tech careers.
Break Through Tech's founder and executive director, Judith Spitz, said that the research confirms that innovative experiential learning programs that directly engage employers are one of the most effective interventions to help level the playing field for women and other underserved communities regarding tech talent recruitment.
The study was conducted in two parts from February 22, 2022, to May 15, 2022.
The first part of the study featured an open-ended survey of NACE career services and employer members to elicit best practices and challenges, with approximately 230 NACE members participating.
The second part of the study used data from NACE's 2022 Student Survey, with 15,680 students from 262 four-year colleges and universities responding.
The study, "The Impact of Career Services on Women Pursuing Tech Careers," can be downloaded here.
