87% of female professionals are actively pursuing upskilling opportunities in technology-based programmes, according to the study conducted across 20 Indian tier-I and II cities by Emeritus, a global leader in professional education. This underscores the proactive efforts of women to navigate challenges in the evolving employment landscape marked by technological disruptions, according to an official release.
Reflecting the growing interest of women in technology upskilling, nearly on par with men (88%), the study reveals that women at the C-Suite level are willing to invest more in their further education compared to their male counterparts. Female CXOs, on average, express a readiness to spend $10,000 (approximately Rs 8.45 lakh) within the next year, a notable $1500 (approximately Rs 1.25 lakh) more than male CXOs. This data points to a distinctive trend where women are positioning themselves as frontrunners in rapidly evolving tech-driven industries, the release mentioned.
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The World Economic Forum (WEF) reports that women constitute only about 26% of Artificial Intelligence (AI) job roles globally. Skillsoft’s 2022 women in tech report highlights that 60% of surveyed women feel outnumbered by men in leadership roles within their organisations, with ratios of two-one or greater. Addressing this disparity requires a focus on upskilling women in the tech sector.
“These gender-based insights from the Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study 2023 underscore the remarkable enthusiasm of female professionals in embracing upskilling opportunities. It is evident that women are keen to position themselves as leaders in the tech-driven job market. The data reflects a strategic approach, with women at various seniority levels dedicating significant time and resources to stay ahead in dynamic industries,” Mohan Kannegal, CEO, India and APAC, Emeritus, said.
Participants across various seniority levels, including junior management (34%), middle management (27%), senior management (21%), and owners (38%), express a high willingness to invest in upskilling within the $100-$399 (approximately Rs 8,000-34,000) price range. Conversely, C-Suite level professionals (32%) demonstrate a greater inclination to spend on higher-cost upskilling programmes, ranging between USD 10,000 and $50,000, as per the release.
Primary motivations for upskilling among women and men across seniority levels, as identified in the study, include increasing self-confidence, developing leadership skills, ensuring job security, and staying abreast of the latest knowledge in the field. Additionally, the Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study 2023 reveals that while the male workforce tends to prefer shorter programmes (with the majority willing to spend up to two-three months), female professionals stand out for their readiness to dedicate 4-6 months to upskilling initiatives.
The study surveyed a total of 1,720 Indians aged between 21-65 years, hailing from across 20 tier-I and II cities in India. The average age of the respondents was 39, and the average work experience was 12 years, it added.
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