SHE FIGURES 2021
About She Figures
The She Figures publication is the main source of pan European, comparable statistics on the state of gender equality in research and innovation.
The data presented throughout six chapters, follow the 'chronological journey' of women from graduating from doctoral studies to participating in the labour market and acquiring decision-making roles, while exploring differences in women and men's working conditions and research outputs.
Explore the focus of each She Figures chapter below along with some data trends.
- The pool of graduate talent
- Participation in science and technology (S&T) occupations
- Labour market participation as researchers
- Working conditions of researchers
- Career advancement and participation in decision-making
- Research and innovation output
2021 edition
- Seven policy briefs were developed on emerging and ongoing policy priorities in the area of gender equality in R&I. The policy briefs cover topics related to women's presence, participation and progression in science, institutional culture and institutional change, gender imbalance in Europe's research leadership, gender dimension in research and innovation content and training, holistic view of STEM education at undergraduate level, promoting a gender perspective in innovation, and intersectionality.
- For each EU Member State, a country fiche has been developed with key results in thematic areas, so all European citizens can have more information on how their countries are performing.
- The updated 'She Figures Handbook' provides the latest methodological guidance on data collection and calculation of indicators.
Chapter 2
The pool of graduate talent
The EU has almost achieved gender parity among doctoral
graduates. In 2018, women represented 48.1% of doctoral
graduates at the European level and the proportion of women
among doctoral graduates was gender-balanced (i.e. ranged
between 40% and 60%) in the majority of EU-27 and Associated
Countries. Despite this progress, important gender gaps
persist in specific broad fields of study. At both the
European and country levels, women doctoral graduates were
over-represented in the field of Education and
under-represented in the broad fields of Information and
Communication Technologies and Engineering, Manufacturing &
Construction.
Chapter 3
Participation in science and technology (S&T) occupations
In 2019, women represented the majority of the population
that is tertiary-educated and employed as professionals or
technicians in the fields of science and technology (HRSTC)
at European level (53.7%). However, women were less
represented among the population of employed scientists and
engineers at the European level (41.3%). Given the strategic
importance of technology (tech) industry to the EU economy,
these data indicate that greater effort is needed to
increase women’s participation in this field. A new
indicator shows that women represent less than a quarter
among self-employed professionals in Science and Engineering
(S&E) and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT).
Chapter 4
Labour market participation as researchers
Over the last decade, the EU has seen positive developments
to achieve gender balance in the overall pool of doctoral
graduates. Despite this progress, in 2018, women represent
around one-third (32.8%) of the total population of
researchers at the European level. At both the European and
country level, women researchers account for a lower
proportion of the economically active population compared to
men researchers. However, the average growth rate of women
researchers was 3.9% between 2010 and 2018, indicating some
positive changes over time. Data also show that segregation
persists in research careers across the main economic
sectors (higher education, government and business
enterprise sectors), with a higher percentage of women
researchers being employed in the higher education sector.
Chapter 5
Working conditions of researchers
Across the EU, in 2019, a higher proportion of women
researchers, compared to men researchers, work part-time and
under precarious working contracts in the higher education
sector (11.1% for women and 7.2% for men). Both women and
men researchers were more likely to work under precarious
contracts at earlier career stages. In line with the
European Commission’s approach to foster institutional
change through Gender Equality Plans, in 2020, the majority
of research organisations’ websites report to have taken
measures and actions to strengthen gender equality.
Chapter 6
Career advancement and participation in decision-making
At the EU level, in 2018, women represented more than 40% of
academic staff on average. However, going up in the academic
ladder, women make up only one-fourth (26.2%) of grade A
positions (equivalent for full professorship position).
While there has been some progress towards improving women's
representation in decision-making and leadership positions,
women represent less than 25% of heads of institutions in
the higher education sector in 2019. In 2019, just over 3 in
10 board members were women (31.1%) and under one-quarter of
board leaders (24.5%) were women at European level.
Bachelor's and Master's or equivalent level (ISCED levels 6 & 7) followed by Doctoral level or equivalent (ISCED level 8).
ISCED 6 – Bachelor's or equivalent level.
ISCED 7 – Master's or equivalent level.
ISCED 8 – Doctoral or equivalent level.
Grade C: The first grade/post into which a newly qualified PhD (ISCED 8) graduate would normally be recruited within the institutional or corporate system.
Grade B: All researchers working in positions that are not as senior as the top position (A) but definitely more senior than the newly qualified PhD holders (C) (i.e. below A and above C).
Grade A: The single highest grade / post at which research is normally conducted within the institutional or corporate system
Chapter 7
Research and innovation output
At both European and country level, between 2015 and 2019,
women and men published a similar number of publications at
early stages of their career. As authors become more senior,
women published less than men, indicating a widening gender
gap as the level of seniority increases.
Women were significantly under-represented as inventors at
EU level. During the time period 2015-2018, for every 100
patent applications held by men, women hold 12 (10.7% at
EU-27 level).
