WoTech: Strengthening women’s position in the labor market
WoTech connects women from Estonia and Latvia who want to make a career change by acquiring entry-level knowledge and skills to enter the IT sector. Course aims to provide participants with opportunities to increase their economic security in near future, while also serving as an inspiring example for girls who are searching for their own direction. A more equitable labor market encourages all interested individuals to pursue opportunities within the field.
The path to a career change and beyond
Each participant’s journey to joining the program and training is different, both in in length and motivation. The participants are really of all ages, for some, it signifies a significant shift in their long-standing careers, while for others, it marks the initial step in serious career planning. It is important which direction the participant sets for himself for the future. The course’s objective, along with the event held in end of April, is to bolster participants’ courage to explore and learn independently.
At the recent motivation day in Tallinn, the great enthusiasm and dedication of both participants and organizers were well noticeable. Completing a long and intensive course requires a lot of willpower as it takes place alongside other responsibilities such as work, family life, and hobbies. Therefore, the leading partner of the project, the NGO Targa Töö Ühing, organized a day-long inspiration event. Presentations offered both inspiring stories and practical insights, in addition it was a good opportunity for participants to connect with one another.
IT specialists working in both the private and public sector also shared their experiences. They talked about their professional victories and challenges, personal examples were given of both timid giving up and quickly climbing the career ladder.
Labor market balance
Among the speakers was Ulla Saar, Deputy Chancellor of the Labor Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs, who presented the situation of the labor market and its future prospects. Although there is a lot of talk and use of AI, labor shortage in the IT sector is not ending soon. The training combines professional learning, which includes a lot of practical tasks, and the development of soft skills. While the IT sector continues to be in high demand, newcomers often require additional skills related to resumes, interviewing and networking. In the last part of the course, these topics are also taken up
Such targeted courses not only fulfill the IT sector’s need for employees, but also contribute to improving the balance of the labor market, making it more diverse and equal. WoTech hopes to create opportunities for women who want to change their careers and boldly take on new challenges.
Text: Liisa Liivamets, National Contact Point in Estonia
