OIT Joins Education Community in Recognizing “We Are IT Day”
November 15, 2006

The Ohio Office of Information Technology (OIT) is joining Governor Taft and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) in recognizing November 17th as “We Are IT Day.” The day highlights the need for more women in IT-related occupations by encouraging young women to consider careers in Information Technology (IT).

“Women only account for one in five college graduates with majors in computer science and engineering,” said Ohio State Chief Information Officer Mary F. Carroll. “It is time to begin a new trend, and ‘We Are IT Day’ helps to bring the lack of gender balance to the forefront.”

The demand for Information Technology (IT) workers continues to increase, with the IT field comprising 30 percent of the fastest growing occupations nationally and 40 percent in Ohio. However, the last 20 years has shown that fewer and fewer women are choosing IT as an occupation.

Partnering with ODE in this initiative is the Ohio IT Business Advisory and 10 colleges from across the state, which include Edison Community College, the University of Akron, the University of Cincinnati, Columbus State Community College, Hocking College, Lakeland College, North Central State College, Owens Community College, Sinclair Community College, and Youngstown State University.

The ODE Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education, is working to equalize opportunities for men and women in careers such as IT. Their support, combined with the itWorks Ohio information technology initiative and Ohio’s Third Frontier Project, will help expand Ohio’s high-tech research capabilities and promote innovation and company formation that will create high-paying jobs for generations to come.

Public Relations/Communications Manager
Ohio Office of Information Technology
614-644-8608 (Voice)
614-644-9152 (Fax)
patrick.harris@ohio.gov