Lack of women in IT does matter

If there were more women working in the IT industry it could be more productive as males and females work better collectively, it has been claimed.

In the opinion of Kate Craig-Wood, managing director of Memset, men and women have different skills and strengths, meaning that they are most effective when combined.

Speaking at the Intellect Annual Regent Conference 2009, she added that the gender pay gap is also greater in the IT industry, as it stands at 23 per cent while the national average is 13 per cent.

I think absolutely [the lack of women working in the IT industry] does matter, Ms Craig-Wood said, before adding it's just not very nice working in an office that's full of guys and is very male-centric.

A spokesperson for ClickAJob points out that gender is a major part of satisfying the culture issue.

It's hardly fair to expect brilliance and perfection if you're surrounded by lager and football and your world is something else entirely, he says.

Employees need to feel at home, not like foreigners in their own workplace, no matter how polite their colleagues are.

Sure, there's synergy in men and women working together, but like every combination it's essential to have a balance, he concludes.

A recent survey conducted by wtech-event.co.uk, discovered that over 50 per cent of women working in the IT industry intend to ask for a pay rise this year.