Exploring the gender gap in the coding industry

A more diverse workforce makes for a stronger workforce: Why we need more women who code.

Published on: 15th July 2021

From stereotyping in infancy, research suggests that women are indirectly pushed away from the idea of working in the coding industry. A report by PwC found that 26% of female students say technology is ‘too male-dominated’ as a reason to not pursue a career within it, causing a massive gender gap.

Why do we need more women who code?

Having a gender diverse team leads to making superior business decisions 73% of the time. Spanning from our unconscious, an individual is more likely to consider ideas and solutions from their point of view. This stems to their gender and its related attributes. 

Consider this: if a group of males are tasked with developing an application to solve an issue, they are most likely to consider a problem they have experienced themselves and could leave certain gender-related issues unexplored. 

It just makes sense to have a gender-diverse development team to get the best results.

The increase of women developers in a coding role will inspire the future generation to follow suit into a tech role. It will no longer feel too male-dominated and will combat gender stereotypes. Women entering this industry are making a difference to be proud of.

Why is the coding industry a great place to be?

Developers are already in high demand as the tech industry continues to grow, meaning there are amazing job opportunities all over the world.

Entering a coding role is the perfect opportunity to find your place in an innovative industry and to make a meaningful impact on society. Software and applications are constantly being developed to support all kinds of projects, and being a part of this industry is an exciting place to be. With roles available across the health sector, to education, to fashion and sports there is something for everyone no matter your passion.

Learning to code enables you to fit your work around your lifestyle. With the demand for developers both in-house and in agencies, it is easy to find an organisation to suit you. There’s also the possibility to build your own clients and become a part-time or full-time freelancer, meaning you manage your own time and can work remotely.  

It’s no secret that there are opportunities to earn generous salaries in a coding role. Junior developers with minimal experience can earn an average of over £25,000 and the likes of management on track to earn around £70,000 and above.

Not only does coding bring a fresh challenge, you will also enter a career where no two days are the same. You’re continuously learning as you’re working. This is only boosted by the community which coders have created. With a multitude of networking events and forums, you are always surrounded by like-minded individuals. There’s plenty of experts in the industry willing to offer help and advice to boost your knowledge.

Women who code

Maigen Thomas left her flight attendant role as she looked for a career that made her feel fulfilled.

“Taking the leap was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I knew it was going to be scary and difficult, but I did it anyway. I am so thankful, every day that I did, because I wouldn’t be doing what I love right now if it weren’t for that decision.”

Victoria’s Secret model turned coder, Lyndsey Scott, wants to encourage other women into the industry. 

“I wish more people understood that diversifying tech is crucial to its continued success.”

Tracy Pound, the Managing Director at Maximity, talks about the importance of diversity in the tech industry.

“It’s not a box-ticking exercise to say we have an equal number of men and women. It’s about diversity of thought, it’s about bringing a different engagement level when it comes to team building, and different skills from different types of people.”

What are we doing to support women in the industry?

At Learning People, we are passionate about promoting diversity within the coding industry. We commonly use our platform to spread awareness of the gender gap within the industry and also participate in events dedicated to the same cause. 

Our students receive exclusive support from our Career Services to get them on the right track to a role in the industry. They receive unique insights into their chosen job market and are offered advice on the job application process.

Next steps in learning to code

It’s important to do your research to get a clear idea of the coding roles which interest you and the languages you’ll need to get you there. Our expert career consultants are dedicated to identifying the best course for your experience and career goals to make this process easier.

Our full stack web developer course gives you the tools to become a coding expert from any level. You’ll learn both front-end and back-end development including HTML, CSS, Javascript, Python and SQL. It’s a great course for someone to get an overview of being a developer. It’s completely project based, meaning you start building a portfolio whilst you’re studying; many students land their first role before completing it.

Past student Charlotte enrolled on the full stack web developer course and landed her first job soon after beginning the course.

“There were free online courses you could do but they didn’t give you the full depth that the Learning People course does.”

If you’d like to see where learning to code could take you, explore our full stack developer collection or have a chat with our expert career consultants about how to start or expand your dream coding career.