International Day of Women and Girls in Science
11 February, International Day of Women and Girls in Science
In Slovenia, the largest share of female STEM pupils and students choose to study natural sciences. The share of female graduates in STEM fields is below the European average. Women make up one-third of employed researchers. The gender pay gap is the largest in financial and insurance activities.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 11 February the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The aim of this day is to encourage girls to pursue careers as researchers and ensure equal opportunities for their participation. The focus of the international day is on STEM professions and education, as well as the role of women within them. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, encompassing the following areas: natural sciences, mathematics and statistics; information and communication technologies (ICT); and engineering, manufacturing technologies, and construction.
Largest share of female STEM pupils in natural sciences
Among pupils enrolled in upper secondary STEM programs in Slovenia, the highest share of female pupils was recorded in the school years 2016/17 and 2023/24 in the field of natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics (56% in 2016/17 and 52% in 2023/24). In information and communication technology, the share of girls increased from 4% in 2016/17 to 6% in 2023/24. The difference in the share of female pupils was the smallest in engineering, manufacturing technologies, and construction, where the share of girls was 11% in both school years.
The number of female pupils enrolled in vocational secondary programs from school years 2016/17 to 2023/24 was the highest in technical education programs. The number of female pupils significantly increased among those enrolled in information and communication technology programs, from 119 in the school year 2016/17 to 230 in 2023/24, i.e. by 27%.
More female pupils enrolled in natural science programs
In the school years 2017/18 and 2023/24, the highest share of female pupils enrolled in educational programs related to natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics. In the last school year, there were 2,980 female pupils or 57% of all within this field. Compared to the school year 2017/18, when only 14% (521) of pupils enrolled in information and communication technology programs were female, this share rose to 21% (1,146) by the school year 2023/24. The share of women changed the least in educational programs related to engineering, manufacturing technologies, and construction (by only 1%).
Share of female graduates from STEM programs below EU average
The highest number of female graduates from STEM programs was recorded in France (30.3 per 1,000 population) and Ireland (29,0 per 1,000 population), while Cyprus (6.8 per 1,000 population) and Luxembourg (3.6 per 1,000 population) reported the lowest figures. Slovenia ranks eighteenth with a rate of female graduates completing tertiary education in STEM fields at 15.5 per 1,000 population compared to the EU average of 16.7 per 1,000 population.
More male researchers employed but increasing number of women
From 2017 to 2022, fewer women than men were employed as researchers in research and development activities. However, during this period, the number of employed women increased by 31% (from 4,549 to 5,961), while male employment grew by only 16% (from 9,529 to 11,054).
In 2022, there were 17,015 researchers employed across all sectors, with about one-third (35%) being female researchers.
The share of male and female researchers varies between sectors. In the public sector, with the smallest difference, women represented 49% of all employed researchers. A larger disparity was observed in the business sector, where women accounted for a quarter of all researchers.
Notable growth in the number of female employees in the public sector
The number of employees in research and development (R&D) in the public sector increased between 2017 and 2022. The number of men grew by 10% (from 4,402 in 2017 to 4,852 in 2022), and the number of women by 24% (from 3,899 to 4,830).
In the fields of natural sciences and engineering, the number of employed women grew by 27% and the number of men by 12%. Across subfields, there was a consistent rise in female employment, whereas the number of men decreased in agricultural sciences (by 13%, from 387 to 338) and in engineering and technology (by 6%, from 984 to 927).
Gender pay gap highest in financial and insurance activities
The gender pay gap is defined as the relative difference between average monthly gross earnings of women compared to men. In October 2023, the largest pay gap was observed within financial and insurance activities where women's average gross earnings were lower by about 22.5% than earnings of their male counterparts. This gap was also present in human health and social work services at 21.6% as well as in jobs within ICT at 17.8%. Conversely, women earned more than men in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (by 8.6%) as well as in construction (by 8.2%) and in transportation and storage (by 7.8%).
Largest share of female STEM pupils in natural sciences
Among pupils enrolled in upper secondary STEM programs in Slovenia, the highest share of female pupils was recorded in the school years 2016/17 and 2023/24 in the field of natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics (56% in 2016/17 and 52% in 2023/24). In information and communication technology, the share of girls increased from 4% in 2016/17 to 6% in 2023/24. The difference in the share of female pupils was the smallest in engineering, manufacturing technologies, and construction, where the share of girls was 11% in both school years.
The number of female pupils enrolled in vocational secondary programs from school years 2016/17 to 2023/24 was the highest in technical education programs. The number of female pupils significantly increased among those enrolled in information and communication technology programs, from 119 in the school year 2016/17 to 230 in 2023/24, i.e. by 27%.
More female pupils enrolled in natural science programs
In the school years 2017/18 and 2023/24, the highest share of female pupils enrolled in educational programs related to natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics. In the last school year, there were 2,980 female pupils or 57% of all within this field. Compared to the school year 2017/18, when only 14% (521) of pupils enrolled in information and communication technology programs were female, this share rose to 21% (1,146) by the school year 2023/24. The share of women changed the least in educational programs related to engineering, manufacturing technologies, and construction (by only 1%).
Share of female graduates from STEM programs below EU average
The highest number of female graduates from STEM programs was recorded in France (30.3 per 1,000 population) and Ireland (29,0 per 1,000 population), while Cyprus (6.8 per 1,000 population) and Luxembourg (3.6 per 1,000 population) reported the lowest figures. Slovenia ranks eighteenth with a rate of female graduates completing tertiary education in STEM fields at 15.5 per 1,000 population compared to the EU average of 16.7 per 1,000 population.
More male researchers employed but increasing number of women
From 2017 to 2022, fewer women than men were employed as researchers in research and development activities. However, during this period, the number of employed women increased by 31% (from 4,549 to 5,961), while male employment grew by only 16% (from 9,529 to 11,054).
In 2022, there were 17,015 researchers employed across all sectors, with about one-third (35%) being female researchers.
The share of male and female researchers varies between sectors. In the public sector, with the smallest difference, women represented 49% of all employed researchers. A larger disparity was observed in the business sector, where women accounted for a quarter of all researchers.
Notable growth in the number of female employees in the public sector
The number of employees in research and development (R&D) in the public sector increased between 2017 and 2022. The number of men grew by 10% (from 4,402 in 2017 to 4,852 in 2022), and the number of women by 24% (from 3,899 to 4,830).
In the fields of natural sciences and engineering, the number of employed women grew by 27% and the number of men by 12%. Across subfields, there was a consistent rise in female employment, whereas the number of men decreased in agricultural sciences (by 13%, from 387 to 338) and in engineering and technology (by 6%, from 984 to 927).
Gender pay gap highest in financial and insurance activities
The gender pay gap is defined as the relative difference between average monthly gross earnings of women compared to men. In October 2023, the largest pay gap was observed within financial and insurance activities where women's average gross earnings were lower by about 22.5% than earnings of their male counterparts. This gap was also present in human health and social work services at 21.6% as well as in jobs within ICT at 17.8%. Conversely, women earned more than men in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (by 8.6%) as well as in construction (by 8.2%) and in transportation and storage (by 7.8%).
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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