University of St.Gallen study on IT careers in St.Gallen, Switzerland; IT fields appeal mainly to boys and men.

The way IT careers are portrayed influences girls’ career choices

Back Research - 04.05.2026 - 14:00 The way IT careers are portrayed influences girls’ career choices IT careers are still seen as promising, though they tend to appeal mainly to boys and men. Particularly in the fields of cyber security, AI development, network maintenance and support, there is still a high demand for skilled workers, even as AI puts pressure on traditional programming jobs. How can we get more girls and young women excited about a career in computer science? A new study by the University of St.Gallen shows that it is not only the requirements of a profession that matter – but also how it is presented.

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The way IT careers are portrayed influences girls’ career choices

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Resilient in the (professional) world – Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates celebrate their graduation

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Tobias Reichmuth of Maximon is “HSG Founder of the Year 2026”

From Strategy to Impact – with Visualisation

“At START Summit, you can get to know over 100 start-ups in just two hours”

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Tricks to stay in power: A critical look at electoral reforms

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Algorithm on X effects political views in the USA

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The need for digital skills is growing steadily and a shortage of skilled workers is expected in the long term. Nevertheless, comparatively few women choose a career in computer science. How can this be changed?

HSG researchers Dr Scherwin Bajka and Prof. Dr Patrick Emmenegger investigated this question as part of a large-scalesurvey of around 2,500 Year 8 pupils from the cantons of St.Gallen and Lucerne. The results show that to attract more girls to careers in IT, it is not enough simply to boost their self-assessment of technical skills. It is equally important to critically examine existing career profiles and present them in a more realistic light.

Not social enough: Girls often find existing portrayals of IT careers boring

The study shows that girls are less likely than boys to associate IT careers with social and interactive aspects. Whilst boys perceive IT as both technically challenging and socially interactive, girls often view these careers as purely technically challenging. Yet everyday working life in IT certainly involves social and interactive aspects, ranging from teamwork to customer contact. However, these aspects are rarely clearly highlighted in career descriptions.

IT is often perceived by young women as being strongly technical in nature.

Collaborative work at the screen: The IT profession is perceived as particularly attractive when teamwork is involved.

To test the impact of alternative portrayals, the researchers used career information videos. One group watched a traditional, technically focused video, whilst a second group was shown a version with a stronger emphasis on social aspects.

When IT careers are portrayed with a focus on teamwork and collaboration, girls’ interest increases significantly.

Among boys, interest remains stable regardless of the presentation. This finding is also consistent with the results of theprevious study.

These findings show that a more realistic and socially balanced portrayal of IT careers can specifically help attract more girls to these paths without deterring boys or distorting the professional image.

The study thus makes it clear that gender differences in career choice are not based solely on individual preferences. They also arise from perceptions and portrayals of professional requirements and can be changed.

Recommendations for policy and practice

Career guidance in the field of computer science should place greater emphasis on the social aspects of technical professions and dispel stereotypical notions at an early stage. Even simple measures, such as short videos or adapted job descriptions, can have measurable effects on career choices.

Thestudy “How to reduce the IT gender gap in occupational preferences?”byProf. Dr. Patrick EmmeneggerandDr. Scherwin Bajkais available to download online.

IT careers are still seen as promising, though they tend to appeal mainly to boys and men. Particularly in the fields of cyber security, AI development, network maintenance and support, there is still a high demand for skilled workers, even as AI puts pressure on traditional programming jobs. How can we get more girls and young women excited about a career in computer science? A new study by the University of St.Gallen shows that it is not only the requirements of a profession that matter – but also how it is presented.

“A more realistic and socially balanced portrayal of IT careers can help attract more girls to these fields.”

Dr. Scherwin Bajka, GOVPET Leading House at the University of St.Gallen

Collaborative work at the screen: IT careers are perceived as particularly attractive for women when teamwork is highlighted.

“Our perceptions of professions are not always accurate. IT professions are far more creative, interactive and team-oriented than is often assumed.”

Prof. Dr. Patrick Emmenegger, GOVPET Leading House at the University of St.Gallen

University of St.GallenDufourstrasse 509000 St.GallenSwitzerland