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Women make up 29% of the workforce in computer and math occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. "There are several factors that contribute to the gender gap in STEM, ranging from a lack of female role models young girls see in the day-to-day, unequal access to computer science education, and cultural stereotypes, to name a few," says Mary Snapp, corporate vice president of Microsoft Philanthropies.
Although women earn about 57% of all bachelor’s degrees and half of all science and engineering bachelor’s degrees, women’s participation at the undergraduate college level in engineering (20%) and computer science (15%) remains low. Thus, women remain underrepresented in the science and engineering workforce, although to a lesser degree than in the past, with the greatest disparities occurring in engineering, computer science, and the physical sciences (National Science & Engineering Indicators, 2020).According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the field of engineering is expected to grow as much as 10 percent in the coming decade. In recent years, the prospects for college graduates have been fair at best, but engineering graduates experience a much more favorable job market. Why? Experts say demand for engineers will continue to grow as governments and industry work to meet the challenges of a growing global population and dwindling resources.
