Overall Employment Growth in Science and Technology

In 2021, the European Union saw approximately 74 million individuals aged 15 to 74 employed in science and technology sectors. This marked a 3% increase from 2020 and a significant 21% rise compared to 2011.

Gender Distribution in the Workforce

Of those employed in science and technology, 52% were women, reflecting a 4% increase from the previous year and a noteworthy 26% growth since 2011. Meanwhile, the male workforce saw a more modest rise, growing by 1% since 2020 and 16% over the past decade.

Regional Variations in Employment

The representation of women in science and technology varies significantly across EU regions. In 2021, Latvia and Lithuania had the highest percentages of women in these roles, each at 63%. Other regions with high female employment included:

• Great Plain and North, Hungary – 61%
• Central region, Poland – 61%
• Saxony-Anhalt, Germany – 61%
• North and South-East, Bulgaria – 61%
• Azores, Portugal – 60%
• Estonia – 60%

Conversely, Malta reported the lowest female representation at 44%, followed by the Italian regions of South (46%) and North-East and North-West (both 47%), as well as the South Netherlands (47%).

Source dataset: hrst_st_rsex

Age Demographics of Employed Individuals

Among the 17.6 million people aged 25 to 34 working in science and technology, women comprised over half (53.3% or 9.4 million). The increase in female participation in this category was considerable, with a rise of 14.8% over the past decade, translating to approximately 1.2 million more women. In comparison, the number of men in the field also grew by 10.8% to reach 8.2 million.

Within the broader age range of 25 to 64, individuals aged 45 to 64 accounted for 45% of the 68.3 million workforce, while those aged 35 to 44 made up 29%, and 26% were aged 25 to 34.

Conclusion

The data illustrates significant growth in female participation in the science and technology sectors across the EU, although regional and age-based disparities remain. Understanding these trends is crucial for addressing gender imbalances and fostering inclusive growth in science and technology fields.