Gender Gap in STEM (Statistics 2025)

 

Note: The article on the STEM gender gap, published in The New York Times, suggests that the gender gap does not indicate a lack of ability in mathematics among girls, but rather that girls tend to have a greater interest in reading and humanities subjects, leading them to pursue careers in the humanities rather than STEM fields.

Workforce gender gap in STEM statistics

On the positive side, the percentage of women choosing STEM fields has risen since 2010, with 45% of STEM students now being women. Notable gains have also been achieved internationally, as evidenced by the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report, which shows an increase in women entering critical STEM career pathways worldwide. This suggests that the gender gap in STEM education is narrowing.

However, workforce parity remains ambiguous. Upon completing their degrees, women face significant trials in entering and staying in the workforce compared to their male counterparts. As I already mentioned, in the US, women only make up approximately 28.8% of the STEM workforce. What is more troubling is that 40% to 50% of technical women tend to leave the STEM workforce after just 5-7 years on the job.
Yet, in some countries, women remain in STEM longer and make up a significant portion of the workforce. For instance, in Central Asia, the percentage of female researchers ranges from 37.5% in Tajikistan to 52.8% in Kazakhstan. However, in the US, this number appears to be unattainable.

Let’s explore some of the reasons why women decide to end their tech careers for good and why are there less women in STEM. 

Key factors for an unequal percentage of women in STEM

• Women feel undervalued 

The top root cause for unequal statistics about women in STEM was that women didn’t feel valued in their STEM roles. 38% reported comments and subtle patterns of disregard that drove them to feel invisible, disrespected, or not good enough by managers or colleagues, despite having the same level of education, experience, and capabilities. 

• Dismissive managers

21% reported toxic manager behaviour like inconstrucive feedback, denying access to key decisions, meetings, failing to get recommendations for promotions despite strong performance, and taking credit for work done by women. Some women even reported their careers being deliberately sabotaged by their managers. 

• Alienation 

As STEM fields are predominantly male-dominated environments, 19% of women reported alienation and exclusionary behaviors by their male colleagues. Women often struggle to get their voices heard and valued in meetings, which can lead to missed opportunities due to their outsider status. Some women fail to overcome consciously or unconsciously biased policies, processes, and mindsets among those holding power. This can also be viewed as one of the most notable STEM gender gap examples. 

• Lack of career growth

Some surveyed women reported that career growth opportunities were not equally available. 16% expressed that they are used to watching male peers secure promotions despite being equally or better qualified.

• Not enough female role models

Young women and girls often lack visible role models in STEM fields. This is why many women find it hard to envision a successful future in the fields. The absence of women in leadership and senior technical roles may signal that long-term success is less attainable for them.

All of the abovementioned factors can significantly hinder women’s career progression, drive younger women and girls to opt for more “traditional” career paths, and reinforce the persistent gender gap in STEM education.

The good news is that there are still plenty of opportunities for female students to pursue STEM education. For example, online math tutoring platforms like Brighterly create supportive and accessible learning environments both for girls and boys aged 6-15 (as well as non-binary students). With personalized online math tutors, it’s significantly easier to help girls build confidence, sharpen math skills, and encourage them to pursue STEM careers without fear of bias or exclusion.

 

 

 

Brighterly, an online math tutoring platform, utilized a Common Core-aligned math program, STEM-focused curriculum, and interactive game-based learning to provide personalized math assistance and help girls master math concepts with ease.

On top of that, the standard tutoring rate around the United States is between $20 and $80, whereas Brighterly offers an affordable price from 17.40/lesson.

Statistics on how the gender gap in STEM affects kids’ future earnings

The gender gap in STEM not only manifests itself through educational and workforce disparity. It also affects wages and has lasting consequences for children’s financial futures. Even though careers in STEM are among the highest-paying across all industries, studies show that systemic barriers and bias can prevent girls from accessing these opportunities. 

STEM workers earn on average 29% more than workers from other sectors. However, since women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce, the number may be even lower in the highest-paying sectors like engineering and computer science. This can indicate that girls are facing being cut off from the most lucrative sectors before they even graduate from high school. If you ever wonder, “What are the reasons for gender inequality in STEM?”, the uneven pay may be the answer. 

The problem does not end here. According to Pew Research Center, women in STEM jobs earn roughly 74 cents for every dollar men earn. This may be better than the overall gender gap, but it’s still quite significant. 

The issue begins early. Research reveals that by the age of 6, girls are less likely to view themselves as “really, really smart.” That notion drastically changes their trajectory, making them gravitate towards “traditionally feminine” subjects, majors, and degrees like art or history. As a result, this reinforces the broader issue of men vs women in STEM.

Individual impacts aren’t the only thing at stake, as closing the gender gap in STEM could add up to $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025, according to McKinsey Global Institute.

All in all, closing the gender gap in STEM fields isn’t only about fairness. It is an investment in the lifelong financial stability of young girls, the strength of the workforce, and the health of the global economy.

Statistics on parents’ involvement in school STEM programs

Parents, with their beliefs and expectations, play a crucial role in shaping girls’ attitudes toward and interest in STEM studies. Hence, parental and family involvement is pivotal for girls’ success in STEM education. But do parents deliver? The STEM gender gap statistics say otherwise.

For example, research indicates that children whose parents are actively involved in their STEM learning show higher academic motivation and achievement in STEM subjects. Yet, parental participation remains limited, with only 31% of elementary schools, 19% of middle schools, and only 10% of high schools holding family math/STEM workshops for students and parents. This gap highlights the need for increased efforts to engage families in STEM education.

76% agree that after-school STEM programs help their children develop an interest and skills in STEM​. Additionally, maternal support has a particularly powerful impact: research has shown that maternal encouragement significantly increases girls’ motivation to pursue STEM fields in high school, compared to paternal influence. 

These after-school activities are proven to be effective in improving students’ STEM interests. Family participation may vary from attending STEM-related fairs and workshops to enrolling their kids in supplemental learning schools, like Brighterly, a math tutoring platform.

For example, Brighterly utilizes a gamified learning approach to make math sessions engaging, fun, and accessible for every student, which can alleviate math-related anxiety and increase interest in STEM. This approach to a math class also fosters problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of math concepts that children can relate to real-life experiences.  

Additionally, parents’ level of education can greatly influence their support and involvement in their children’s STEM activities. Educated parents are also more likely to help their children pursue STEM fields, offering emotional support and fostering perseverance in challenging subjects.

Gender gap in STEM 2020-2025

STEM education gender gap

As of 2023, women made up only 35% of STEM graduates globally. According to the STEM education gender gap 2020, in the United States, women earned 42% of bachelor’s degrees in mathematics or statistics in 2020, 25% in physics, and 23% in engineering, showing gradual increases from previous decades.

Gender gap in STEM education 2020-2025

Explore more facts and figures on the gender gap in STEM education in 2020-2025.

Stem education gender gap 2020	Between 2011 and 2020, the number of S&E degrees earned by women increased by 63% at the associate’s level, 34% at the bachelor’s level, 45% at the master’s degree level, and 18% at the doctorate level.
Stem education gender gap 2021	In the academic year of 2020/21, about 860,760 male and 1.2 million female students earned a Bachelor’s degree in the United States.
Stem education gender gap 2022	The 2022 Gender Gap Report 1 suggests that gender segregation within STEM education continues.
Stem education gender gap 2023	Approximately 48% of parents with daughters discuss STEM topics with their kids at least once a week. This is up from 42% in 2020-2021.
Stem education gender gap 2024	Girls comprise about a quarter of enrolments in year 12 information technology, physics, and engineering classes.
Stem education gender gap 2025	Data not available on the STEM education gender gap 2025 in the USA.

STEM workforce gender gap

As of 2023, women only made up 28%  of the STEM workforce. This figure has seen minimal improvement over the past decade, and the same goes for STEM education gender gap statistics. However, between 2011 and 2021, the percentage of women working in STEM fields increased more than that of men.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on the percentage of women in STEM

COVID-19 worsened existing gender gaps in education. Studies show that girls experienced more significant learning losses in mathematics and science compared to boys.

What is the gender gap in STEM majors?

The gender gap in STEM majors remains disproportionate, with women significantly underrepresented. As women make up only 35% of STEM graduates, the disparities in specific STEM fields are as follows:

Engineering	Computer Science	Life and Physical Sciences
16% of women graduates	26% of women graduates	45% of women graduates

Note: Despite alarming women-in-science statistics, women have still earned a majority of all bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees awarded to US citizens and permanent residents in recent years.

Although women are underestimated in many STEM fields, like biological sciences, chemistry, and materials science, as well as web and digital interface design and physical sciences, these fields exhibit the smallest gender gaps, at 58%, 46%, 44%, and 43%, respectively. 

If you’re wondering what percentage of STEM students are female in the biggest gender gaps and differences, then you’re looking at engineering, with 15%, computer science, with 25%, and physics with 24%.

Gender gap in STEM: What fuels the disparity?

Several key factors contribute to the gender disparity in STEM. These include:

• Stereotypes and early socialization
• Lack of visible role models
• Bias in education and hiring
• Workplace culture and retention issues
• Access to resources and support

Understanding disproportionate women in STEM statistics

A woman’s decision to opt out of STEM fields can be impacted by many factors, starting with cultural barriers in the workplace, through to women being more likely to be a primary carer for children or other family members. 

Additional factors such as bias and stereotyping, a lack of flexible work arrangements, career insecurity, and a lack of female role models have a great influence on girls’ and women’s decisions to enter and remain in STEM education and careers. As mentioned, even if a woman enters a STEM job, she is more likely to leave the workforce after just 5-7 years, primarily due to child care responsibilities. 

A recent study finds that both new moms and new dads leave STEM jobs; however, 43% of women leave full-time STEM employment after their first child, compared to 23% of men. 

Why is gender equality in STEM important?

The proportional percentage of women in STEM is not only about fairness. The right proportion of the STEM workforce will also add trillions to the global economy, making gender equity not just fair but economically smart.

How to fix the gender gap in STEM?

• Introduce crucial subjects early, and encourage girls to pursue STEM-related education.
• Promote visible female role models and increase leadership representation at all levels.
• Address structural barriers such as the gender pay gap, lack of family-friendly policies, and gender bias.
• Create inclusive workplaces and address unconscious biases.
• Support women to stay in STEM careers by offering mentorships and support programs.
• Provide professional development opportunities.

Conclusion: Fighting gender inequality in STEM

Addressing gender inequality in STEM is not something that can be accomplished in a single year. How to close the gender gap in STEM? We need a multi-faced systemic approach to solve this issue. Talented tech women face many challenges and still play a secondary role in STEM. However, there is a silver lining: we have the collective opportunity to empower women with the freedom of choice in educational tracks and career paths, unlocking the full potential of STEM-related industries for women.

And when it comes to educating them, the Brighterly online math tutoring platform is there to help. If you’re looking for a math platform that is

• Fully inclusive 
• Uses research-based teaching techniques 
• Supports students from underrepresented backgrounds 
• Offers free math worksheets and study resources 
• Provides STEM-focused Common Core-aligned curriculum 

Then, Brighterly is for you! Equipped with all the abovementioned features, Brighterly ensures girls and boys receive equally good, high-quality math education!