Genders still divided in use of the Internet

Despite the growing number of websites targeted at women, there is still a distinct gender gap in the use of Internet technologies and online services from the workplace.

Women are often reluctant to make use of newer Internet technologies and only 35 per cent of women visit industry news and information sites, claimed the quarterly Durlacher report into the Internet, released today.

The survey, conducted among 650 UK employees, found that although women make up 35 per cent of the overall Internet population, they tend to be less integrated into online information services and have different requirements to men if they are going to make more effective use of the Internet.

According to Durlacher, women tend to occupy more internally facing roles that are less well served by the Internet. Information sites tend to be largely geared towards content for male interests and job functions.

Sarah Skinner, European Internet analyst at Durlacher, said: "The types of jobs that women dominate, such as HR or personnel, are not well served by corporate portals. More integration, services and content on the Web will increase productivity."

"Women tend to have a more collaborative approach to problem solving and communication. The Internet has a huge, but currently utilised, potential to service this type of communication," she added.

The report also shows that 40 per cent of employees said training would make their Internet use more effective, rising to 50 per cent of women respondents. Durlacher predicts these findings will offer a huge opportunity for existing training companies as well as new online training tools.

Faster access and better search navigation tools were also cited as key areas that needed improving to make the Internet easier to use at work.

Durlacher has some encouraging news for employers, however. According to its research, employees say they only send and receive an average total of six personal emails per day, and spend a total of 20 minutes per day on personal surfing and email.