'Digital skills aid narrow workplace gender gap'

Digital fluency -- the extent to which people embrace and use of digital technologies to become more knowledgeable -- plays a key role in helping women to achieve gender equality, a research by Accenture said on Friday.

The report, titled "Getting to Equal - How Digital is Helping Close the Gender Gap at Work", provides empirical proof that women were using digital skills to gain an edge in preparing for, finding and advancing at work.

"Women represent an untapped talent pool that can help fill the gap between the skills needed to stay competitive and the talent available," said Pierre Nanterme, chairman and CEO of Accenture.

"There is a clear opportunity for governments and businesses to collaborate on efforts that will empower more women with digital skills - and accelerate gender equality in the workforce," he added.

The company said the research report was an outcome of the company's commitment to maintain a diverse workforce and build confident individuals, and reflects on the impact of digital skills and usage on women careers.

"When women and men have the same level of digital proficiency, women are better at leveraging it to find work. Nearly 60 percent of all survey respondents in India - men and women combined, agreed that digital enables them to work from home - 50 percent said it provides a better balance between personal and professional lives," the report said.

The report was based on results from an online survey conducted in December 2015 and January 2016 of more than 4,900 working women and men in 31 countries.