Women's History Month: There's Still Work To Do

At Adapt, fostering diversity and inclusivity is a moral imperative. That’s why the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 5 is one of the cornerstones of our agency's resolute journey to a better future for all. This commitment holds the promise of achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls. We dream of a workplace where every individual feels valued and included, fostering unlimited growth for the irreplaceable and incomparable women of our society.

Creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique perspectives fosters a culture of trust and collaboration. By embracing diversity in all its forms – whether it be race, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability – organizations can tap into a wealth of ideas and experiences that fuel growth and drive positive change.

Championing diversity and inclusivity isn't just about promoting fairness and equity; it's also about calling out the inequities you see happening around you. By actively promoting equality in hiring practices, career advancement opportunities, and exposing existing disparities, organizations can create pathways for success that are accessible to all. Even in this decade, more than 100 years after the start of the Women’s Suffrage movement, there is a significant pay gap between men and women; with women [on average] earning 82 cents for every dollar made by a man in their respective positions (Zippia). As of 2023, only 17% of employed IT consultants in the United States were women (Zippia, verified against BLS and US Census). And with data from 2021, we see that just 22% of Computer and Information Sciences bachelor’s degree recipients were women (NCWIT). While there are no instant solutions, it's clear that significant improvement is necessary, and progress in our journey toward an equitable workforce is lagging behind where it should be.

A recent study by the Financial Times, analyzing data from the the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates an increase in the number of IT jobs held by women since 2019. According to the Financial Times, there was an increase from 31% in 2019 to 35% in 2023, marking a 12.9% increase. While progress is evident, it's important to recognize that there is still a long way to go in achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls. However, we remain committed to this pursuit.