02.09.2025
Information and communication technology (ICT) offers an enormous variety of exciting careers with a promising future. Despite this, the proportion of women in ICT is still low, and the sector urgently needs more female talent. Workshops like Girls Go Digital@PostFinance can help get girls interested in ICT at as early an age as possible.
PostFinance offers exciting ICT training opportunities and jobs for experienced professionals in an inspiring environment. Interested?
Developing the next big game? Advising companies on their choice of IT solutions? Digitizing or automating processes? Creating videos and other digital content? Analysing data to help people through innovative apps? Information and communication technology (ICT) offers a huge range of exciting jobs – and with artificial intelligence (AI), there will only be more. In many cases, these are jobs that require a lot more talent for communication and teamwork than the dogged, nerdy image of an IT specialist might suggest.
ICT encompasses all technologies that enable us to create, collect, store, process, share and communicate information.
So far at least, jobs in ICT have not exactly been high on the list of career choices for the majority of young women in Switzerland. In 2024, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), there were a total of 11,453 apprentices in ICT vocational training. On average, men account for 83.6 percent of ICT training contracts, with women making up just 16.4 percent. For individual apprenticeships, the gender gap is even more pronounced (see figure). According to Netzwoche magazine, the picture for IT students and in the professional environment is similar: only 18 percent of students are female, and only 16 percent go on to work in the ICT sector. This means that there is already a pronounced gender difference when students start university.
In 2024, only around 16.4 percent of all ICT apprentices in Switzerland were female. At 43.3 percent, the highest proportion of women is in the Mediamatics Technician, Federal VET Diploma apprenticeship, while at just 3 percent, the lowest proportion is in the Building IT Technician, Federal VET Diploma apprenticeship.
Women are still underrepresented in ICT. This not only exacerbates the shortage of skilled workers, it also has an impact on the way software and IT systems are developed. Diverse teams in ICT can encourage creative solutions and innovation, because as a rule, different perspectives and experiences lead to better decisions and products.
But how can we get more girls interested in information and communication technology? Key to this is raising awareness of this area and removing obstacles at as early an age as possible – both at school and in the private sphere, with parents encouraging their children’s interest and curiosity. This is a view shared by PostFinance. This summer, with Girls Go Digital@PostFinance, the financial institution opened the door to the fascinating world of ICT to 21 interested girls aged 12 to 15. The free three-day workshop took them on an exciting journey of discovery – with no prior knowledge required.
The young participants were given the opportunity to develop, try out and directly implement their own ideas in a fun and practical way. They gained insights into topics such as web design, programming with Python, and cybersecurity – supported at all times by dedicated IT specialists and helpers from PostFinance. Examples of their work include designing a paper prototype for a pizza shop’s website and programming mandalas. “We wanted to encourage the girls to discover their curiosity for IT – with no pressure, but with plenty of fun and inspiration,” explains Luana Geissbühler, who is responsible for the project at PostFinance.
The outcome was thoroughly positive: the girls showed curiosity, mettle and enthusiasm, with some doubtless discovering their talent for ICT. For its leaders and helpers – mostly ICT apprentices or students – the workshop was also an enriching experience, allowing them to pass on their knowledge to inspire young girls and provide insights into the exciting world of ICT careers.
“The energy the children brought along was incredible,” says Luana Geissbühler. “For us as a company, workshops like these are also an investment in the next generation of talent.” They help to break down inhibitions, build self-confidence and give interested girls the assurance that there are ways to gain a foothold in this area when they are older. Which is why the last day was dedicated to presenting the ICT training professions offered by Swiss Post Group – from interactive media design to IT and mediamatics.
The workshop also showed just how varied ICT careers are – and the different skills that are needed. A liking for STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is certainly an advantage. But social skills, creativity and outside the box thinking are just as important. If you like puzzling over things until you have the right solution, you’ll enjoy a job in ICT. Because ICT specialists often work in teams. It’s about finding solutions to specific problems together and communicating them to internal or external clients in contact with customers. This requires tact and sure communication instincts.
Whether it’s app development, IT security, game design or data analysis – the world of ICT is very diversified. Girls can choose exactly what suits their interests: creative, technological, analytical, practical or strategic.
Digital solutions can be used to solve real problems – in education, health, the environment, mobility or communication. Girls can contribute their perspectives and help shape how we will live and work in the future.
ICT specialists are more in demand than ever. Learning a profession in this area provides excellent prospects for the future, including internationally.
ICT professions often involve interdisciplinary work alongside others – perfect for anyone who enjoys developing ideas, communicating and finding solutions as part of a team.
ICT isn’t just about technology – it’s also about design, communication, user-friendliness and storytelling. Many girls find it to be an ideal mix of logic and creativity.
ICT careers offer attractive development opportunities and the possibility of working in management positions – with a salary to match.
“In our digitally-driven society, I think it’s essential for women to be actively involved in the ICT sector – with their ideas, perspectives and creative drive. An ICT apprenticeship or ICT degree opens up the opportunity to help shape our society, and with it our digital future, and to improve ourselves continuously through lifelong learning. It is precisely because technologies are constantly changing that the ICT sector remains exciting and dynamic. Because digital solutions are needed in almost all areas of our lives, ICT is important everywhere. Besides, ICT also needs more female perspectives, because diverse teams develop more innovative and inclusive solutions that benefit society as a whole.”
“The ICT sector may be male-dominated, but that doesn’t mean women can’t be successful in this field – and it certainly doesn’t mean it’s uninteresting! On the contrary, you’ll find interesting work, creative challenges and plenty of opportunities for development. Both the profession and the training are varied and create a solid foundation for various exciting ongoing training and education opportunities. An ICT apprenticeship or ICT degree is the perfect starting point for a varied and future-oriented career.”
According to Swiss ICT, the largest professional association in the Swiss ICT sector, ICT as a professional field provides jobs for around 240,000 people in Switzerland. These jobs vary widely – from ICT architect to application manager to scrum master. On its website, Swiss ICT provides a helpful overview of ICT job profiles – divided into job families and with valuable descriptions of the work involved.
We would now like to take a closer look at six ICT-related apprenticeships that can be completed in Switzerland with a Federal VET Diploma:
ICT specialists are the professionals when it comes to the optimum use of a wide variety of ICT resources. They are familiar with the equipment (hardware) and programs (software), set them up and support others with their use. They also prepare guides and instructions, answer questions and ensure that everything is connected, and that it works. They help to ensure that technology can be used by everyone.
IT technicians specializing in application development program software, apps or websites to make other people’s everyday lives easier. They analyse the needs of internal or external customers, work in teams to develop suitable digital solutions and test whether they are clear, secure and reliable in practice.
IT technicians specializing in platform development plan and develop software platforms. After installation, they test them for errors and ensure that they always function properly. They also teach other people how to use the platforms.
Digital business developers are the specialists for digital solutions. With their understanding of business processes and data analysis, they optimize workflows and ICT products. They communicate both with specialists from a wide range of fields and with customers. They visualize their solutions for customers in creative ways.
Mediamatics technicians produce multimedia content and know how to use and deploy it. They are the professionals for photography and video production, web development, marketing and administration.
Building IT technicians plan, install and configure building automation, communication and multimedia systems. They set up data networks and connect various building technology systems to each other − for example, for lighting, heating and ventilation.
Websites, 3D animations, apps, games or video clips: interactive media designers are the specialists for the conception, design, and implementation of interactive digital communication resources. Their role also involves managing multimedia projects.
In Switzerland, there are several paths to an ICT career. One option is basic vocational training with a Federal VET Diploma. This apprenticeship can be combined with a vocational school-leaving certificate, which allows access to a university of applied sciences.
Holders of a university-entrance school-leaving certificate can take advantage of the Way-up programme to complete shortened basic vocational training in IT or mediamatics in a compact, practice-oriented course leading to a vocational qualification with a Federal VET Diploma.
They can also complete a Bachelor’s degree with integrated practical training (PiBS), the dual study programme that combines entry into the world of work with a recognized BSc in computer science
Building on practical experience, professionals can obtain a Federal VET Diploma or diploma through higher vocational education. Alternatively, higher technical schools (HF) offer school-based training with a recognized qualification.
Universities of applied sciences (UAS) and universities (ETH, EPFL) offer academic courses in IT and related disciplines, with admission based respectively on the vocational or university-entrance school-leaving certificate. The range of training options therefore ranges from practical courses to research-related courses of study.
We have seen that ICT careers are diverse and anything but nerdy. It has also become clear that women in ICT are urgently needed. Training in this field opens countless doors for young women. As information and communication technology becomes increasingly important in all areas of life, ICT specialists are in high demand. This means that women in ICT can also contribute their skills in a wide variety of industries – whether in banking, healthcare, public administration, construction and many other sectors.
Peppermintas’ mission is to inspire more girls’ enthusiasm for STEM – with creative workshops, exciting events and interactive activities designed specifically for young girls and their caregivers, including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents and teachers. Peppermintas shows how much fun STEM can be in the community – and how important it is for women to be active in technical and scientific fields.
Women in Tech Switzerland is an initiative dedicated to empowering women’s interest in STEM – from the classroom to the boardroom – by fostering a strong community through partnerships and networking events.
