The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an agency of the United Nations, today announced the observance by more than 170 countries of “Girls in ICT Day,” which aims to help bridge the digital divide in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. Against an ITU estimate that two million tech jobs won’t be filled within the next ten years due to a lack of digital specialists, the organization said, “Girls and young women who learn coding, app development and computer science will not only be well-placed for a successful career in the ICT sector; advanced digital skills are rapidly becoming a strong advantage for students in almost any other field they might choose to pursue. Digital skills give qualified girls an edge in a competitive job market, provide a higher salary and enhance career mobility.” ITU said that hundreds of events are planned worldwide aimed at “inspiring a new generation of girls” to explore ICT careers.
