Women in ICT Action Report

The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) believes in the importance of improving the attraction and integration of women in the Canadian ICT Industy.

According to ICTC's December 2008 statistics on gender representation in the Canadian ICT labour force, the percentage of women in ICT is 25.0%.

Barriers that have been identified by ICTC’s research include:

• Negative perceptions of computing and related work.
• Systemic barriers in post-secondary institutions.
• Misalignment of job descriptions and job requirements.
• Inadequate support in the workplace for women with young families.

"The Canadian ICT industry is facing a skills shortage in the next 3-5 years and ICTC recognizes the large pool of talented women who will be able to play a critical role in addressing this issue" says Keith Sinclair, President and CEO of Harris Consulting Corporation. "I believe that there are fantastic opportunities for women to forge exciting careers in the information and communications technology industry in Canada." 

Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) would like to thank our partners, at the Women in ICT National Forums.   

Reports

December 2009: FIT Program Gender Lens Report This study reviewed the Information and Communications Technology Council’s Focus on Information Technology (FIT) program, materials and website in order to make recommendations about what could be done to increase the participation of girls in the FIT program.
March 2008: ICTC’s Women in ICT National Forums - Action Report ICTC’s Women in ICT National Forums - Action Report
March 2008: List of Resources for Women in ICT International, National, Provincial & Regional List of Resources for Women in ICT (International, National, Provincial & Regional)
March 2008: Women in ICT National Forums Taking Action on Women in ICT – Women in ICT National Forums Action Report For more information on the Women in ICT initiative please email wit@ictc-ctic.ca
March 2007: Diversity: The Competitive Edge Rapid technological change, globalization, the demand for skills and education, an aging workforce and greater diversity in the labour market have forever changed the employment landscape.
May 2005: Breaking Down Barriers to Women in ICT This report was developed in 2005 under the Researching Careers in IT project.