Migrant Women and the Australian Information, Communications and Technology Sector—A Special Case?

ABSTRACT

This paper traces the experiences of migrants working in information technology in Australia, particularly migrant women from non-English speaking countries, examining the impact of both ‘supply-side’ factors like skills, birthplace and sex, and ‘demand-side’ institutional characteristics of information, communications and technology sector employers. Australian Bureau of Statistics data are used to study characteristics of information technology workers in NSW, while government longitudinal data are used to examine the flows of recent migrants. These quantitative data are complemented by information gathered from interviewees and key informants, some of whom worked for a large US-based multinational corporation. Our findings indicate that compared with other industries, the information, communications and technology sector has successfully utilised the skills of migrants, and is characterised by a culture of relative openness and mobility. However, in tighter economic times, discrimination becomes more of an issue for migrant workers. Additionally, information, communications and technology remains a male-dominated sector, and female migrants in the industry, who need to re-establish not only their careers but also viable work-care arrangements, typically experience a more difficult transition to Australian life than their male counterparts.