Women in STEM: a global snapshot and Spain’s major challenges
Women represent half of the world’s population, yet their voices are too often missing from strategy and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The push to chart a future in these fields hinges on inclusive representation. Without it, the benefits of innovation may not reflect the needs and talents of half the population.
Research consistently shows that women participate in technical careers at lower rates than men. Wages for women in STEM also lag, and fewer women reach the top echelons of research and leadership. UNESCO reported in 2021 that women accounted for about one third of scientific researchers globally, with even smaller shares among members of national academies of science. These gaps ripple through promotions, scholarships, and opportunities to publish in leading journals, reinforcing a widening ladder of advancement as women progress in academia and industry.
In Europe, the pattern persists and can be acute. In Catalonia, the DonaTIC barometer shows women make up just 8.6% of tech professionals and earn roughly 19% less than male colleagues on average. Women in management roles fell to 31% last year, and officials called such gaps devastating, noting that Europe as a whole has yet to normalize gender balance in technology leadership.
Spain mirrors this trend. ONTSI data indicate that 17.8% of women pursuing STEM at the state level are in STEM fields, with IT professionals at 19.4%. Although Spain shows one of the EU’s smaller wage gaps for women in tech, the gap exists, and overall salary disparities remain. The World Economic Forum has highlighted Spain among the countries with higher overall income gaps, even as the EU pursues broader equality goals. Recent union reports in the digital sector point to discriminatory practices and a persistent lack of attractive job offers for women technologists, with around 40% of women in IT reporting gender-based discrimination.
shortage of female talent
Multiple factors help explain the gender gap in Spain’s tech ecosystem. Experts point to a limited pipeline of female talent, with insufficient encouragement for girls to pursue STEM from an early age. The COVID-19 crisis amplified demand for high-skilled, technology-related work, but supply did not grow at the same pace. The Spanish Association for Digitalization notes roughly 120,000 vacant roles in tech and digital sectors annually, underscoring persistent talent shortages across the industry. Even with broad growth in STEM, women remain underrepresented in many specialties. Data from LinkedIn reveals that women make up just 5% of site reliability engineers, 7% of cybersecurity engineers, 9% of cloud engineers, and 15% of data or AI engineers.
The Spanish government has set a bold aim: surpass 2.12 million ICT professionals by 2030. Spain currently sits behind a few EU peers in the overall stock of tech talent, trailing only Italy, France, and Germany within the union. A Deloitte-compiled Digital Decade in Europe study frames this as a turning point for modernization and competitiveness in Europe.
STEM as a gateway to opportunity
STEM jobs represent a clear pathway to economic opportunity. European projections from the McKinsey Global Institute estimate that millions more STEM roles will be created over the next decade. In the United States, growth in STEM occupations is projected to outpace average job growth by roughly ten percent between 2020 and 2030. In the near term, foreign-trained talent can help bridge the gap, while long-term strategies focus on strengthening education pipelines and making STEM fields more welcoming to women. Eurostat and other sources also reveal that more work is needed to attract young women into STEM; in some domains, female enrollment remains substantially lower than male enrollment, with computer science and engineering showing particularly wide gaps.
Beyond recruitment, retention is essential. The gender gap persists in career advancement and leadership roles. However, visible role models and targeted mentorship programs can help shift norms. The experience of notable women in tech demonstrates that leadership and innovation can thrive when institutions actively support equality and inclusion. The EU and individual nations are increasingly aware that progress in STEM depends on broad participation and fair opportunity across all genders.
Stereotypes, education, and the path forward
Experts emphasize that underrepresentation stems from a mix of educational pathways, socioeconomic factors, and family dynamics. Persistent stereotypes and teaching methods that fail to inspire scientific literacy can discourage girls from pursuing STEM. Spain’s challenges are compounded by regional variations and the broader EU context, where leadership representation among women remains limited. Yet, progress is possible when schools, employers, and policymakers align on clear equity goals and strong support structures for female students and professionals in STEM.
Statistics from 2019 show that women’s graduation rates in science, mathematics, computer science, engineering, and related fields lag behind male peers in several regions. While the situation varies by sector, the overall trend points to a need for sustained effort to raise female participation and leadership in STEM across Europe.
in search of role models and a brighter future
Experts note that female representation matters. Seeing women succeed in engineering, AI, and other tech disciplines can inspire the next generation to imagine themselves in these roles. Pioneers who break barriers, like notable researchers and founders, help redefine what is possible for girls and young women. The presence of women in high-profile STEM positions signals a practical blueprint for future generations and reinforces the idea that talent exists across all genders. While progress varies by country, the shared message is clear: STEM needs diverse voices to solve tomorrow’s problems.
Across Europe, the goal remains: raise participation, narrow the wage gap, and ensure women have equal access to leadership opportunities in STEM. Although the journey is ongoing, the momentum is undeniable, driven by policy initiatives, corporate commitments, and a growing chorus of educators who believe in a fairer, more innovative future.