The EU science and technology sector has seen an increase in employment, with women well represented, according to data from Eurostat. In 2023, the workforce in this sector grew by almost 3% from the previous year, continuing a decade-long trend of consistent growth. Eurostat reported that 78.3 million people were employed in science and technology in the EU in 2023, with women making up 52% of this workforce.
Over the past decade, the number of people employed in science and technology has increased by 25% in the EU, according to Eurostat. Those considered to be in this sector are individuals aged 15-75 whose work requires a high level of professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, as well as social sciences and humanities.
While the overall representation of women in science and technology is relatively high, the statistics vary by country and profession. Malta had the lowest representation of women in this sector at 45%, while Latvia and Lithuania had the highest rates at 63%. Despite the overall increase in the number of women in science and engineering professions, they remain underrepresented, making up only 41% of this population, compared to 59% men. The number of women scientists and engineers has grown from 5.1 million in 2012 to 7.7 million in 2023, marking a 50% increase.