'Geeky' image of IT stops recruitment
10/03/2008(17:14)
The "geeky" image of the IT worker needs to be altered before more women can be encouraged into the industry, says an EU official.
EU Commissioner Viviane Reding said the "geeky, unsociable" image of the industry needs to be shedded before the skills shortages can be met, reports the Age.
Ms Reding points out that 300,000 qualified workers are needed in the area by 2010, but that even fewer young women are opting to be educated in the area.
"We need to convince young women ... to prepare for a job in the IT sector, and not to leave this entirely to their male colleagues," she told the newspaper.
Ms Reding added that the creative aspect of the job needed to be emphasised and suggested the EU could become involved in promoting the sector.
A code is due to be set up by Europe's IT industry later this year to encourage a good working environment and attract qualified staff, she told the Age.
The IT Governance Institute recently reported that top bosses are concerned that a lack of IT staff will affect their business.
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