In the G20 countries, the proportion of women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is plateauing at 22%. This situation undermines our collective ability to innovate and respond to the pressing challenges of our time, such as climate change and digital transformation. At Brazil's instigation, UNESCO has produced a report highlighting this situation and recommending a series of actions to finally move towards gender equality.
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General
Within the framework of the Women's Empowerment Working Group, which met for the first time during the Brazilian Presidency of the G20, and drawing on its mandate and expertise in the fields of education and science, UNESCO has sent G20 members the report "Changing the Equation", a comprehensive overview of the presence of women in STEM fields.
The report shows that the proportion of women working in STEM occupations has increased only slightly over fifteen years in G20 countries (22% in 2021, compared with 19% in 2005)as well as in many other regions of the world. The report also indicated when they do work in these fields, women face pay gaps that can be considerable, as well as limited opportunities for career advancement.
In the ten G20 countries for which data is available, the average salary of women working in STEM fields is at most 88% of that earned by men - in four countries it's even less than 75%. Scientific grants are a key financial resource for many researchers, yet in 2022 women accounted for just 37% of recipients in a sample of thirteen countries, including ten G20 members.
Gender inequalities are already apparent at school. Due to persistent gender bias and discrimination, women account for just 35% of STEM university graduates in G20 countries, even though they perform as well or better than men in terms of academic results. This proportion drops to 29% in information and communication technologies, and just 26% in engineering, manufacturing and construction. Additionally, over 40% of women studying STEM subjects say they have been victims of sexist behavior.
To address this situation, UNESCO calls on G20 countries to adopt cross-cutting policies in favor of gender equality, not only by developing the aspirations of girls and women to pursue studies in STEM fields, but also by ensuring fair and equitable working conditions for young female graduates.
This means combating gender bias in teaching materials, providing gender-sensitive career advice, and creating supportive policies that enable women to reconcile work and family life without penalty, while ensuring that their work is recognized and compensated fairly.
