5 reasons why women should consider a career in STEM

Share

26th Jul 2019

For a long time now, Westpac has been paving the way by empowering young women, including its own female employees, to consider a career in technology. As part of its four-year long partnership with Vogue Codes, Westpac has continued driving this change for 2019, committed to improving the numbers surrounding women in STEM positions. So what are the numbers? This year, Westpac has launched the Westpac STEM Careers and Perceptions Report which reveals the current landscape for young women in tech in Australia. We’ve broken up the top five lessons here.

Lesson one: Men are more likely than women to want a career in STEM.
61 percent of men are either in a STEM career or want to be in one, versus 50 percent of women.

Lesson two: Young women are more likely to feel they can’t make informed decisions about their own career.
Gen Z females, which are those born in the mid-1990s to mid-2000s, are more likely to feel they don’t have enough information to make decisions about their career (57 percent of females versus 50 percent of males).

Lesson three: Half of young people don’t even think they are capable of a career in STEM.
51 percent of young Australians surveyed said they don’t think they are capable of a STEM career.

Lesson four: Most young people aren’t even sure what STEM is.
77 percent of young Australians did not know STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and maths.

Lesson five: Young people in the workforce feel they don’t have the STEM skills they need to future-proof their career.
64 percent of younger workers are concerned they don’t have the skills required for the future of their job role.

This research proves it’s critical that young women are exposed and supported in STEM subjects and careers. Fortunately, Westpac’s STEM commitment means it’s helping to change the landscape. Anastasia Cammaroto, Chief Information Officer for Westpac Consumer Division, says they are committed to “breaking down the confusion or uncertainty around STEM” with a range of initiatives.

In 2019, Westpac has continued its technology scholarships, including The Westpac Scholars Trust and the Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship, urging young students to consider a career in tech. For the second year, Westpac has offered the STEM PhD Program, which grants students who are studying STEM subjects part-time employment at the Westpac Group while they undertake their PhD. Aside from scholarships, Westpac has a range of other career pathway programs, including summer internships and graduate programs. 

Last year Westpac launched All SySTEMs Go!, an education program designed to encourage female high school students to gain valuable STEM skills. “So far we’ve provided 100 girls the opportunity to upskill in STEM,” says Cammaroto. “It really motivates me to continue to encourage more of the next generation to see all the possibilities STEM has to offer.”

In addition to Vogue Codes, Westpac supports a number of other corporate initiatives that encourage girls to consider a career in tech, too. Westpac works closely with Code Camp, a coding program for kids, and Mathspace, a maths app which boosts and encourages maths skills.

“I think there is a narrow perception that a career in STEM is always highly technical, but in actual fact STEM skills open up a broad range of career opportunities, including working with technology, finance, food, fashion and travel,” says Cammaroto. “Understanding the importance of these industries is the key to encouraging young Australians, especially women, about the amazing opportunities on offer.”

Westpac is leading the charge, so it’s time to follow their lead and consider a career in STEM.

Find out more about the initiatives, programs and partnerships that make up Westpac’s STEM commitment, here. Applications are also open for 2020 Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships. Apply or nominate someone today.

Click Here: rugby jersey