Women in STEM in the EU: How to close the gender gap

The briefing from the European Parliamentary Research Service highlights that the European Union faces a persistent shortage of STEM professionals, particularly in fast-growing technological sectors, while women remain under-represented across education and employment pathways. This gap emerges early in schooling, widens in higher education, and persists in the labour market, where women make up a relatively small share of scientists and engineers in high-tech industries. As a result, the issue is framed not only as one of gender equality, but also as a structural constraint on the EU’s innovation capacity and global competitiveness.

It identifies a range of interconnected causes behind this imbalance. Sociocultural factors such as gender stereotypes, family expectations, and the lack of visible role models continue to shape girls’ aspirations, while differences in confidence and risk perception influence educational choices even when performance is similar. These dynamics are reinforced by education systems that are not always gender-sensitive, as well as by workplace conditions that can be exclusionary or difficult to reconcile with family responsibilities, contributing to lower entry and higher dropout rates for women in STEM careers.

In response, the briefing outlines a broad EU policy framework aimed at addressing the gender gap through coordinated measures in education, research, and employment. These include promoting inclusive and gender-sensitive teaching, supporting women through mentoring and funding schemes, and strengthening legal protections against discrimination while improving work-life balance. The overall approach stresses the need for early intervention, structural change, and supportive environments, positioning greater female participation in STEM as both a social priority and an economic imperative.