International Girls in ICT Day

International Girls in ICT Day History

International Girls in ICT Day seeks to inspire young girls to study and pursue technology. This day highlights female role models in technology as a way to encourage girls to take up careers in the technology sector. It hopes to increase interest in information and communication technology among young girls to help balance the gender gap within the workforce. According to weforum.org, 65% of children entering primary school will have jobs in the future that do not yet exist.

International Girls in ICT Day was established in 2014 by International Telecommunication Union. It is observed annually on the fourth Thursday of April.

Facts about International Girls in ICT Day

• The theme for International Girls in ICT Day in 2024 was Leadership.The theme in 2023 was Digital Skills for Life.
• According to unwomen.org, about 65% of the children around the world who are entering primary school today will have jobs that do not yet exist.
• Women hold only 25% of all the jobs in the tech industry, despite making up more than half of the workforce.
• According to the World Economic Forum, in 2022, the biggest female-led Fortune 500 companies which operate in the U.S. are:
  1) Mary T. Barra – General Motors
  2) Corie Barry – Best Buy
  3) Gina Boswell – Bath & Body Works
  4) Gail K. Boudreaux – Elevance Health
  5) Rosalind Brewer - Walgreens Boots Alliance
• According to Built In, in 2022, women only held about 26% of computing jobs in the United States.
• According to isemag.com, in the US, about 52% of males majored in STEM courses in college compared to 30% of females in 2021.

In the News and Trending in the US for International Girls in ICT Day

Top things to do in the US for International Girls in ICT Day

• Discover events around you. The International Telecommunication Union hosts events around the world so be sure to check for any upcoming ones.
• Listen to a podcast with the founder of the Women in Science International League Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite.
• Explore 10 years of girls in information and communication technologies. This series of virtual events hosted by the International Telecommunication Union celebrates women and girls in technology.