Data science is essential for everyone in today’s highly digitized environment. Due to the increasing importance of data in modern business, this domain is expected to see the fastest growth rate over the next decade. In today’s cutthroat economy, organizations across all sectors must improve their efficiency and sustainability via data science.
The healthcare sector, for instance, utilizes big data to detect and forecast illnesses and tailor treatment plans to each patient. Similarly, online retailers automate “smart” ad placement and personalize product suggestions based on customer data. To simulate the most effective traffic routes and lamps, the transportation sector also utilizes data to optimize freight routes.
Shortly, data will be indispensable to every sector of the economy. Therefore, professionals can expect great data science salaries.
The Gender Information Deficiency
The world is teeming with data scientists. A data scientist’s primary responsibilities include the creation of algorithms and prediction models that may be used to streamline corporate processes and improve management’s decision-making. Data Science technology alleviates these biases, and that is why it has proved to be more accurate than making decisions based on personal preferences and experiences.
Currently, just 15%–22% of the data science workforce comprises women, according to studies conducted by the World Economic Forum, the Global Gender Gap Report, and BCG. According to research by Bob Hayes of Business Over Broadway, just 26% of all data professional roles are held by women, and only 1 in 4 data scientists are female. While women receive 57% of all bachelor’s degrees, just 12% are in computer science, according to Girls Who Code.
Women need to be more represented in data science. The gender data gap arises when many important economic and societal decisions are made without the participation of women since they are underrepresented in data-related sectors. Women suffer due to this lack of representation, but the field of data science also needs to catch up on various ideas and points of view crucial to its development. We must fix this problem and make the business world more welcoming.
Challenges Faced by Women in Data Science
One of the primary reasons for the lack of gender equality in the data science industry is the widespread bias and discrimination that women face in STEM fields. From the subtle gendered micro-aggressions that women confront every day to the more overt forms of bias, discrimination of various kinds is common in hiring and promotion decisions. For these and other reasons, many women choose not to pursue careers in data science.
This Issue of the Gender Pay Gap
The term “gender pay gap” describes the disparity between what men and women earn in the workforce. Women earn, on average, 82% less than men do in the same job in the United States. The data science salaries gap between genders has been generally steady over the last 20 years, affecting women’s economic stability and professional opportunities.
The root causes of the gender salary gap are debatable. Some people believe this is because women are treated less favorably in the workplace than men. Others attribute it to the tension between prioritizing jobs and family life. The data science salary gap between genders occurs for some unknown cause.
For the same task, the senior data scientist salary for women is very less than men. As a field, data science has a 32% gender pay gap, indicating that women earn, on average, 32% less than men. This disparity has become worse over time, with the percentage being only 13% in 2017. Women are discouraged from entering the field of data science when the pay gap between men and women is this large. You shouldn’t put in double the effort for half the income. The fact that this needs to change is obvious.
USDSI® Paves the Way for Women in Data Science and Beyond
Addressing the institutionalized prejudice and bias that underpin the lack of gender diversity in data science is crucial if we are to establish a more equal and inclusive workplace. By introducing unbiased AI-based certifications online, where women can network, learn, and grow in STEM fields, the United States Data Science Institute (USDSI®) is contributing to efforts to reduce the gender gap in these fields.
Before issuing a data science certification, irrespective of gender, USDSI® does exhaustive testing of each candidate’s skills. All USDSI® certification programs are important and provide you with an edge in terms of professional advancement and employability.
Globally, businesses require credible proof that their current employees and prospective hires have a sufficient grasp of the topic. Undoubtedly, women are often good problem solvers and researchers by nature, making them a good fit for the dynamic and ever-changing IT industry.
