What kind of careers in science do 15-year-old boys and girls expect for themselves?

In 2015, the OECD's Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) asked students about the occupation they expect to be working in when they are 30 years old. Students' responses were later grouped into science-related and non-science-related careers - with the former including science and engineering professionals; health professionals; science technicians and associate professionals; and information and communication technology (ICT) professionals. Key findings are that: (1) on average across OECD countries, almost one in four students - whether boy or girl - expects to work in an occupation that requires further science training beyond compulsory education; (2) boys are more than twice as likely as girls to expect to work as engineers, scientists or architects; 4.8 per cent of boys, but only 0.4 per cent of girls, expect to work as ICT professionals, on average across OECD countries; and (3) girls are almost three times more likely than boys to expect to work as doctors, veterinarians, nurses or other health professionals.

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