This deck reviews the state of play in the STEM industry and provides insight on how to fix a skills shortage by making a more welcoming working environment for women.

1. Women in STEM
The state of play in STEM and how we can change it
Bonnie Andrews
Head of Product

2. Overview
In this presentation:
• Review the state of play in STEM
• Highlight three ways we can tackle the challenge
• End with a brief note on what Jobsite is doing to tackle the challenges recruiting STEM roles
Talent acceleration

3. The skills crisis in STEM
43%
of STEM vacancies are
hard to fill
of entire STEM workforce are
women21%
What does this skills shortage lead to?
• Shortfall of approx. 69,000 recruits a year
• Higher wages due to competition
• Lower productivity as time to hire is high
• Less flexibility in terms of business planning
*Sources: UK Commission for Employment & Skills
The UK research

4. STEM – the numbers
14%
of all people we surveyed working in STEM
occupations are women
• 39.5% of employees – male and female – do not believe their
company actively promotes equality for all employees
regardless of age, gender and other factors
• Women employees in STEM careers expect to be paid less
than men across average salaries
Our survey research
*Sources: StepStone survey, March 2017

5. Women earn less than men
Women typically expect to get paid a salary of £36,571 compared to £43,678 – a difference of £7,107.
They also receive smaller bonuses – an average of £2,059 for men and just £1,128 for women.
A lack of confidence talking about money
• 39% admit they lack the confidence to ask for more money compared to only a quarter of men (27%)
• 29% said they don’t want to risk damaging their relationship with their manager compared to over a third of men (35%)
• 33% said they don’t like talking about money compared to over a quarter of men (28%)
Female graduates are leaving university and actively applying for STEM jobs that pay up to £1,950 less than their male peers.
*Sources: StepStone survey, March 2017
Our survey research

6. Where are the women engineers?
Nearly three quarters (74%) of recruiters surveyed said engineering is
perceived as a career for men and 61% felt gender stereotyping exists.
• 60% of 16-18 year olds see it as a male profession
• Women are more likely to become engineers aiming to improving
society but then leave when they feel disillusioned.
• 7% of engineering apprentices in UK are women
• Less than 1 in 8 of UK engineers are women
15% of women are interested in an engineering apprenticeship,
compared with only 8% of men.
*Sources: Stepstone Survey March 2017 & Engineering UK report 2017
Our survey research

7. Sexism & misogyny in the workplace
• 84% were had been told they were too aggressive
• 88% of women experienced clients/colleagues address questions to male
peers that should have been addressed to them
• 60% of women reported unwanted sexual advances
• 65% of women who reported unwanted sexual advances had received
them from a superior
• 60% who reported sexual harassment were dissatisfied with the course of
action
*Sources: Economist April 2017; www. elephantinthevalley.com
The global research
Senior software engineer:
“In light of Uber’s questionable business
practices and sexism, I have no interest in
joining.”
Uber Manager:
“I understand your concern. I just want to say
that sexism is systemic in tech and other
industries. I’ve met some of the most inspiring
people here.”

8. So what can we do
about it?

9. Tackle unconscious bias
Scientists estimate that we receive 11 million bits of information
every moment – and that we’re only consciously processing 40 bits
of this.
How to tackle unconscious bias:
1. Increase self-awareness
2. Make recruitment truly selective
3. Behavioural design
4. Unconscious bias training
*Source: Jobsite blog
The answers

10. Tackle sexism & misogyny
Damaging to a persons morale, health and a company’s reputation
• Understand that covert “low level” sexism is as damaging as overt sexism
• Speak up for your values of equality
• Listen and educate yourself
• Engage others and promote accountability
• Call out misogynistic behaviour when it occurs
• Change the conversation & don’t be a bystander
As recruiters, it’s important to show how a zero tolerance towards this
behaviour has the power to attract talent and create a better working
environment for your clients.
The answers
*Source: www.rt.com/uk/313696-everyday-sexism-womens-health

11. Get the youth vote
At what age did engineers know they wanted to be an engineer?
• 25% said 11 - 15 years old
• 36% said 16 - 18 years old
• STEM graduates earn around 20% more than their peers
Are apprenticeships the answer?
Apprenticeship schemes are already proving a successful way of nurturing
new STEM talent
• More women interested in Engineering apprenticeships than men
• Level 2 and 3 apprentices deliver £27 of economic benefit for every
£1 invested
*Source: The Tech Partnership & Stepstone survey
The answers

12. What we’re doing at
Jobsite

13. The state of play at Jobsite
Women in the Jobsite IT department:
May ‘15:13%
May ‘17:20%
How have Jobsite moved towards a greater percentage of women in tech?
• Promoting awareness of unconscious bias
• Many of the women in our IT department were recruited from our local university
• Nicola Banerjee, Agile Scrum Coach, has been with Jobsite 11 years – she’s a great role model!
*Source: ONS Employment by occupation report 2016
Women made up 18% of the IT workforce in the UK in 2016, according to ONS
Talent acceleration

14. Thank you