Women “put off” by STEM careers

Though British Gas says it is currently training more than 1,200 apprentices – receiving as many as 50 applications per engineering apprenticeship – almost half (48%) of the women surveyed said they had never considered working in STEM sectors.

According to the utility, last year only 4% of applicants for its technical and engineering apprenticeship schemes were women.

I would encourage girls to think about engineering

British Gas’ Claire Miles

“With boys already taking advantage of the apprenticeship opportunities available, I would encourage girls to think about engineering,” said Claire Miles, managing director for HomeCare at British Gas.

“Apprenticeships are a great way into an organisation, and at British Gas they allow you to earn while you learn and develop skills for life,” Miles added.

The survey, made up of 1,500 parents and over 2,000 young people aged between 15-22, highlights several reasons why women are turning their backs on STEM careers.

Among the concerns, 13% found the industry sexist, while 9% said a STEM career is better suited to the opposite sex.

However, nearly a third (30%) of female respondents said their reluctance to work in STEM sectors was due to a lack of knowledge of the subject area – with 8% suggesting there are not enough role models in STEM industries.

“There are some fantastic opportunities for both women and men in these sectors, so I’m concerned to hear that so many young women are put off by careers in science, technology, engineering and maths,” said Miles.

The survey also highlights salary concerns.

Many of the women surveyed assumed their earning potential would be 10% lower than their male counterparts, with young men expecting to earn on average over £33,000 by the time they turn 30 – a confidence not reflected in the young women surveyed who, on average, said they expected to earn just under £30,000 by the same age.

It is an assumption backed up by industry statistics.

Figures taken from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) annual salary survey suggest that, although the medium salary for chemical engineers is “holding steady” at £55,000 per annum, there is a gender pay gap.

Indeed, over a career lifetime women can expect to earn a median salary of £42,500 compared to £60,000 for men – a discrepancy of almost £20,000, the IChemE suggests.

“More work is needed to close the gender pay gap and to support and promote female chemical engineers, said Andy Furlong, IChemE director of policy.

“Employers must address pay parity, equality and inclusion,” he said.