Current Employment Statistics

As of 2023, approximately 78.3 million individuals aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology fields within the European Union. This figure represents a notable 2.9% increase from the previous year and a remarkable 25% rise over the past decade, compared to 62.5 million in 2013.

Gender Representation in the Field

Women make up 52% of the science and technology workforce, maintaining consistent representation since 2021. They primarily engage in service activities, with 57% of women compared to 43% of men employed in this sector. Notably, Malta stands apart where only 48% of women in science and technology are part of service activities.

Regional Insights

In terms of regional distribution, the highest proportion of women in science and technology is found in:

• Lithuania — 63%
• Latvia — 63%
• Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany — 62%

Conversely, the regions with the lowest representation are Malta at 45% and four regions in Italy, including:

• North-West — 46%
• South — 46%
• North-East — 47%
• Centre — 47%

For more detailed regional demographics, refer to this map.

Focus on Scientists and Engineers

A significant subset of the science and technology workforce consists of scientists and engineers, who represent 24% of the total employed in this sector, marking a 4.8% increase from 2022. Germany leads in this category with over 3.9 million professionals aged 15-74.

While women constitute the majority in the broader science and technology workforce, they only represent 41% of the scientists and engineers. This percentage has increased marginally by 1% over the last decade, though the total number of female scientists and engineers has surged by 50%, rising from 5.1 million in 2012 to 7.7 million in 2023.