Why Europe's girls aren't studying STEM

This report notes that across 35 European countries, fewer than one in five computer science graduates are women. Interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects drops off far too early. This is a major issue for both the current and future jobs market: Europe could face a shortage of up to 900,000 skilled information and communications technology (ICT) workers by 2020 according to the European Commission. This report argues that assisting more young women to take up STEM subjects and careers will help close this widening skills gap and ensure students are set up...  [+] Show more

This report notes that across 35 European countries, fewer than one in five computer science graduates are women. Interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects drops off far too early. This is a major issue for both the current and future jobs market: Europe could face a shortage of up to 900,000 skilled information and communications technology (ICT) workers by 2020 according to the European Commission. This report argues that assisting more young women to take up STEM subjects and careers will help close this widening skills gap and ensure students are set up for success in a world where STEM skills are increasingly important. Accordingly, Microsoft commissioned this Europe-focused research into why the region's young women aren't studying STEM. It investigates exactly when girls' interest in STEM subjects begins to decline, and why and makes recommendations for policymakers, educators and private sector executives on how to get more young women interested in these fields. The research spans 12 European countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and the UK.

The main findings show: (1) there is a narrow, four-year window of opportunity to foster girls' passion in STEM subjects in Europe; (2) the country where young women live has a major impact on their attitudes to STEM as results varied significantly from country to country - in some places, confidence is a major barrier, while in others, peer approval or lack of role models is holding them back most; (3) there are five major drivers impacting girls' interest in STEM subjects, including encouragement and mentorship, gaining practical experience and having visible role models; (4) girls believe anything is possible, but only if they are treated the same as boys - young women are confident that their generation is the first in which men and women will be truly equal in all areas of society, but acknowledge that men and women are treated differently in STEM jobs, and this perceived inequality is actually putting them off further STEM studies and careers.

Edited excerpts from publication.