Nearly everyone who is employed is looking for or plans to look for a new job this year, says Monster.com. The company regularly polls workers. Many job seekers want more money. Others are out of work or see no room for growth in their current role.
Workers are unhappy, even in an economy that has seen many layoffs. Just 36% of employees say they are engaged at work.
What could make workers happier? A company culture that supports feedback, goal-setting, and learning is one answer, HR leaders say.
Another recent Monster poll looks at what women want from the workplace. That can be different from what men want. Here, we take a closer look at what women in tech want from their jobs.
What women value at work matters. Strong support for gender equality and female-friendly policies helps companies stay ahead, says Claire Barnes, Chief Human Capital Officer at Monster.
What do women value at work? What are women in tech looking for from their jobs?
1. Equitable Pay
A majority of women say fair and equal wages are the benefit they value most in the workplace. Yet only 24% believe that men and women are paid the same where they work.
The gender pay gap in tech is still clear. Men are offered higher salaries than women for the same job title at the same company 59% of the time, according to a 2021 survey from Hired. On average, women in tech are offered salaries 2.5% lower than men for the same roles.
2. Growth Opportunities
Two-thirds of women value a clear vision for the future of their career. Sixty-nine percent would consider turning down a job offer if the company lacked career growth opportunities for women, Monster says. Only 23% think all employees at their current company receive the same quality and quantity of opportunities.
In tech, younger women need to see that progression is possible, says Christie Struckman, Vice President Analyst at Gartner. Let them see progress. Be a vocal champion for change in your organization.
For women in tech retention, companies need to focus on more than recruitment. They should look at the full life cycle of female employees at work, Struckman says. Women also see bias in promotions. Forty percent note it.
3. More Women Role Models
The Monster poll finds that 31% of women value female mentors in the workplace. Forty-five percent would consider turning down a job offer if the company lacked female leaders or female employees.
In tech, Deloitte Global predicts that large global technology firms will reach nearly 33% female representation in their workforces in 2022, up a bit from 2019. Women in tech and leadership roles have often lagged the overall share of women by 8 to 10 points. The gap is closing.
4. More Flexibility
A quarter of women say they value maternity leave and childcare benefits, according to Monster. Thirty-seven percent say they would turn down a job offer if the company lacked enough flexibility for working parents. Another 30% say they might leave for lack of parental leave or childcare benefits.
In tech, women executives rank flexibility high when they think about joining or staying with a company. In a WomenTech Network survey, 48% named it as one of their top three concerns. Men leaders are less likely to include this factor in their decisions, at 34%.
Women executives are 1.5 times more likely than their male peers to have changed jobs because they wanted a workplace focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What women in tech want from the workplace matters. Listening to women also supports women in tech retention. More women in tech drive innovation. They also drive impact and revenue. Research from the Peterson Institute for International Economics looked at more than 22,000 firms worldwide. It found that the link between gender diversity and profitability is clear. Companies with a 30% female share saw a 15% increase in profitability compared with companies with little or no gender diversity. More revenue means more profit. In tech, it also means more money for research and development, which benefits us all.
Q&A
Question: Why does the article focus specifically on women in technology?
Answer: The article says that understanding what women in tech want matters for fairness and business results. Women in technology want fair pay, clear growth paths, visible role models, and flexible work. Meeting those needs can help companies improve retention and compete for talent.
Question: What workplace benefit do women value most, according to the Monster poll?
Answer: The top benefit is fair and equal wages. The article notes that 82% of women name fair and equal wages as the benefit they value most, but only 24% believe men and women are paid the same at their current workplace.
Question: How do growth opportunities affect whether women accept or stay in tech jobs?
Answer: Growth opportunities matter a lot. The article says 63% of women value a clear vision for the future of their career, and 69% would turn down a job offer if the company lacked career growth opportunities for women. It also says employers should focus on retention and the full life cycle of female employees, not just hiring.
Question: Why are female mentors and leaders important in tech workplaces?
Answer: Female mentors and leaders show that advancement is possible. The article notes that 31% of women value female mentors, and 45% would turn down a job offer if a company lacked female leaders or female employees. Visible role models can help women see a path forward.
Question: What business case does the article make for gender diversity?
Answer: The article links gender diversity to better business results. It cites research from the Peterson Institute for International Economics showing that companies with a 30% female share saw a 15% increase in profitability compared with companies with little or no gender diversity. In tech, that can also mean more money for innovation, research, and development.
