Gender Recruitment Issues in the IT Sector

Abstract

In India, low literacy rates, traditional gender roles, lack of marketable skills and lower educational levels make it difficult for women to find employment, especially skilled or technical jobs. Women often must settle for jobs that are low paid and require little skill. The problem is compounded for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, who are often forced to work in the informal sector of the economy, which affords little job security or growth potential. The information technology (IT) sector has become a driving force in India’s economic development, accelerating job and revenue creation. As opportunities continue to grow, IT jobs have the potential to create financial stability for greater numbers of employees. Lack of adequate training, high illiteracy rates and low familiarity with computers and the Internet have kept women from entering the IT job market in significant numbers so far, despite the fact that women employees bring other valuable qualities to the workplace, like loyalty, attention to detail and good interpersonal skills. Recognizing the benefit of increasing the number of women in the workforce, Datamation Consultants Pvt. Ltd. is using IT training to extend job opportunities to women from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These women not only lack the technical training and skills that would otherwise allow them access to these jobs, but often lack even basic education. Through an innovative public-private partnership program, Datamation works with local non-profit partners to give these women the training they need, and then recruits successful trainees for full-time jobs within the company.