SOUTHFIELD – In its drive to make Michigan the No. 1 state for women in technology, the nonprofit Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation launched a multi-stakeholder research study to understand the state of girls and women in technology – what drives them, what challenges them and what makes them stay. The results provide actionable insights and resources for parents, teachers, tech executives and HR leaders.

The study, “Explore, Focus and Grow: A Technology Career Journey in Michigan,” includes findings from conversations with middle school girls participating in technology camps, surveys with university students studying tech and women working in technology roles. Through all of these life stages, a technology career attracts girls and women with opportunities to create positive impact, solve problems and be creative. As she progresses in college, she is focused on learning and concerned by how a lack of representation will impact her. When established in her career, she becomes motivated by stability and financial rewards, and grows concerned with being valued equally, seizing growth opportunities, and balancing career with other priorities.

“This study revealed fresh data on what motivates girls and women to choose technology over other fields, which in turn provides insights for the teachers and role models in their lives to show how this field matches those interests and desires,” said Chris Rydzewski, MCWT executive director. “What’s more, we see how MCWT programs, such as Camp Infinity and Girls GET-IT, are engaging girls and igniting their tech interest. And while we know there is always more work to do, the study suggests that we are gaining ground in our vision of making Michigan the top state for women in technology.”

Below are the top findings from the study.

* Family Members are a Primary Influence: A high proportion of middle school girls, and over half of the university students surveyed, have a family member in the field. Many recount time spent together, especially with parents, learning how to engineer, code and use computers. While many girls said they interact through technology with peers, relatively few cite them as a source for learning about computing.

* Early Computer Education Sparks Interest: Both middle school girls and women university students cite computer educators and classes as igniting their interest. Some girls recall experiences they had in early elementary. For girls and university students with a love for problem solving and creating, early exposure appears to be meaningful and leads to in-depth activities such as robotics teams and camps. More than half (52%) of university students cite a computer class teacher as having been very influential in their choice of study.

* Motivations Include Helping Others, Creativity, Problem Solving and Learning: Women university students are most excited about the prospect of applying their love for problem solving to improving the lives of others and society at large. They reported they are most drawn to technology by opportunities to help others (33%), be creative (22%), innovate (19%), constantly learn (14%) and solve problems (10%).

* Role Models Address University Student Concerns: University students express concerns about the lack of representation in the field (26%) and their own lack of confidence (23%). Both are likely areas that can be addressed through role models throughout their technology career journeys, as well as mentoring and education.

* Women Seek a Technology Career Path for Security and Personal Fulfillment: These key themes emerge when women are asked why they choose technology over other paths. Many see the field as growing, providing solid career prospects and a stable demand for talent, while believing tech will provide satisfaction and a sense of personal accomplishment.

* Growth Opportunities Drive Commitment and Success: Professional women consistently highlight four types of growth opportunities that keep them engaged and motivated: training and development, mentorship, opportunities to lead, and being given new challenges. HR professionals indicate they focus on offering and communicating these opportunities. Professional women list growth opportunities most often as a reason young women should choose tech over other fields.

* Lack of Representation and Gender Bias Biggest Challenges Facing Young Women Today: When asked what challenges they believe young women face as they enter the field today, professional women are most likely to list a lack of representation (34%) and gender bias (27%). This echoes a key concern voiced by female university students. While many professional women express satisfaction with their career choice, and university students express enthusiasm about their future, a perception that they will not be equally valued could prevent more young women from entering the field.

* Flexible Schedules Can Attract and Retain Talent: Offering flexible full-time schedules is seen as the most effective recruitment tactic by 35% of professional women. It is also a top mention in ways that employers have encouraged their careers. Mentoring and training are 26% and 21% effective, respectively. More technology professionals state work-life balance in tech is an advantage than those that do not (35% versus 16%.)

* Highlighting Women in Leadership Can Make an Impact: Nearly all professional women (95%) said highlighting women in leadership positions was very to somewhat effective when it came to recruiting female talent. (62% reported very effective, 33% somewhat effective.)

* Michigan is the Ideal Place for a Technology Career: Michigan tech professionals see the state as a great place to live and work that combines quality of life with career opportunity. Advantages Michigan has over other states include a low cost of living (47%), the ability to enjoy urban culture and natural beauty in proximity (45%), a high quality of life (43%) and culturally diverse communities (40%). They also cite a high growth rate for technology jobs (34%), a strong and supportive community of tech professionals (32%), a diversity of industries available (26%) and high-tech industries based here that offer opportunities to innovate (24%).

The study is the result of interviews and surveys with nearly 500 people from different stakeholder groups. It was made possible by a grant from the Ford Motor Company.

The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation’s vision is to make Michigan the No. 1 state for women in technology. The organization supports Michigan’s female IT workforce, students, corporate partners, schools and the overall community with programming, scholarships, networking, learning, mentoring, and technology experiences. Find more information at mcwt.org and connect via LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Explore, Focus, Grow MCWT Report on Recruiting and Retaining Women in Tech.pdf