TY - JOUR

T1 - Returning to IT

T2 - Employment and Development after a Career Break in the United Kingdom

AU - Panteli, Niki

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2006, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - The paper examines the career experiences of women in the United Kingdom who seek re-entry to information technology employment following a career break. Using empirical data from qualitative interviews, the study finds evidence of barriers and limited opportunities. The study shows that women returners are not a homogeneous group and that the length of their career break appears to play a key role in the re-entry process: the longer the break, the greater the impact on career choices. Linked to this, the study shows that women seeking re-entry face a lack of support mechanisms such as flexi-time schemes and part-time work, and receive insufficient training. A case study of an exemplary organisation shows that information technology companies could introduce employment schemes to support women's re-entry and thus their retention in fast-changing information technology occupations, although the pressures of client-based work is seen as a barrier. Implications for policy makers, employers and industry associations are discussed.

AB - The paper examines the career experiences of women in the United Kingdom who seek re-entry to information technology employment following a career break. Using empirical data from qualitative interviews, the study finds evidence of barriers and limited opportunities. The study shows that women returners are not a homogeneous group and that the length of their career break appears to play a key role in the re-entry process: the longer the break, the greater the impact on career choices. Linked to this, the study shows that women seeking re-entry face a lack of support mechanisms such as flexi-time schemes and part-time work, and receive insufficient training. A case study of an exemplary organisation shows that information technology companies could introduce employment schemes to support women's re-entry and thus their retention in fast-changing information technology occupations, although the pressures of client-based work is seen as a barrier. Implications for policy makers, employers and industry associations are discussed.

U2 - 10.1080/10301763.2006.10669334

DO - 10.1080/10301763.2006.10669334

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85164702332

VL - 16

SP - 133

EP - 150

JO - Labour & Industry

JF - Labour & Industry

SN - 1030-1763

IS - 3

ER -