Despite making up 59% of university graduates in Serbia, women account for only 44% of the workforce and less than 10% of top earners. The ICT sector, a key driver of economic growth, remains male-dominated, though Serbia fares better than the EU average—23.3% of ICT specialists in Serbia are women, compared to 18.9% in the EU. Encouragingly, women’s participation in the sector has grown significantly, from 23% in 2017 to 32% in 2021. However, the career progression of women in ICT tells a different story. Many leave the sector early, often due to family responsibilities or feeling isolated in a male-dominated industry. Women advance more slowly, with only 17% in managerial roles and less than 10% in executive positions. Entrepreneurship follows a similar trend—over 80% of ICT businesses in Serbia are owned by men, and male-owned businesses earn nearly twice as much as female-owned ones.

This data, from the publication Women in ICT sector in Serbia (UNDP Serbia & UNDP Accelerator Lab 2022–2023), underscores the need for early intervention—ensuring that girls see ICT as a viable and exciting career path before they begin to drift away from STEM fields.

Recognising these challenges worldwide, the United Nations established the International Girls in ICT Day, celebrated every fourth Thursday in April. So far, over a million girls have participated globally. The initiative aims to inspire girls to pursue ICT careers based on their talents and interests rather than societal stereotypes.

• Programming Competition – A creative challenge where girls present their innovative ideas. This competition will be organised this year for the first time, as an important addition to the Girls in ICT Day initiative and a way to empower girls to demonstrate their programming skills.
• Company Visits – Girls visit ICT firms, women-led businesses, and companies in male-dominated fields, meeting female entrepreneurs and managers who share their experiences.
• Final Ceremony – A celebration and awards event recognising outstanding participants.

The impact of these experiences is profound—95% of surveyed girls said they aspired to be like the women they met, and half expressed a desire to become directors or entrepreneurs.

Studies show that many girls start losing interest in ICT and STEM before finishing primary school—long before they enter the workforce. That’s why ABW focuses on engaging girls at this critical stage (7th and 8th grade), helping them envision a future in ICT and STEM before they start opting out.

As we celebrate 15 years of Girls in ICT Day in Serbia, we look forward to inspiring even more young minds and continuing to build a future where women play an equal role in shaping the digital world. Stay tuned for this year’s program updates!

Association of Business Women in Serbia

Lija Stojković (MA) is a Project manager at the Association of Business Women in Serbia, specialising mostly in EU-funded initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Art and Media Production Management from the Faculty of Contemporary Arts in Belgrade and a master’s degree in Culture studies from the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade. Her expertise lies in project management and communications within the civil sector, with experience on EU and UN-funded projects, as well as coordinating various international and local events and conferences.