24 Nov 2021
She Figures 2021: Women still under-represented in R&I careers
On 24 November 2021, the European Commission published the latest She Figures report, a tri-annual study that monitors gender equality in research and innovation. The 2021 edition of the report shows that the number of female students and graduates at bachelor, master and doctoral levels has grown steadily over the last years. However, women are still under-represented in research and innovation careers.
The She Figures 2021 publication highlights that, on average, at bachelor and master levels, women outnumber men as students (54%) and graduates (59%), and there is almost gender balance at doctoral level (48%). However, disparities between study fields persist. For example, women still represent less than a quarter of doctoral graduates in the ICT field (22%), while they represent 60% or more in the fields of health & welfare and education (60% and 67% respectively).
Furthermore, women represent only around one third of researchers (33%). At the highest level of academia, women remain under-represented, holding about one-quarter of full professorship positions (26%). Women are also less likely to be employed as scientists and engineers (41%), and are under-represented among self-employed professionals in science and engineering and ICT occupations (25%).
She Figures were published in 2003 for the first time. The report monitors the careers of researchers, starting from the time they are studying and graduate, looking at their participation in the labour market as researchers and their working conditions, their career advancement and participation in decision-making positions and R&I output (including inventorship). Statistical correspondents from EU Member States and Associated Countries contribute to the data collection.
The report 2021 can be downloaded here: