In 2021, almost 74 million people aged 15 to 74 in the EU were employed in science and technology, which is 3% more than in 2020 and 21% more than in 2011.
Of these 74 million, 52% were women, i.e., +4% compared to 2020 and +26% compared to 2011. Data shows that female employment in these fields has increased more than male employment (+1% more men compared to 2020 and +16% compared to 2011).
Among EU regions, the highest share of women employed in science and technology in 2021 was observed in Latvia and Lithuania (63% in both cases in certain regions), followed by the Northern Great Plain and Northern Hungary regions, the Central region in Poland, the Saxony-Anhalt region in Germany, and the Northern and South-East regions in Bulgaria (all 61%), the Azores in Portugal, and Estonia (a single region) with 60%.
At the other end of the scale, the lowest proportions were recorded in Malta (44%), followed by the Southern (46%), North-Eastern and North-Western regions of Italy, as well as the Southern Netherlands – all with 47%.