Ed, it's difficult question to answer as to why STEM jobs aren't popular, particularly with female applicants. As someone who worked in IT for nearly five decades it's been interesting to see things change. In the early 70s there were few females studying STEM degrees at IC and I think that was probably representative of UK universities. In my first computing job (as we called IT back in the 70s!) the startup software company I worked for recruited "arts" as well as STEM graduates. That was because it was considered language and other arts employees would be better at communicating with customers and users of systems to define requirements, describe and resolve problems, etc while those with STEM training could tackle technically issues. The result was a high proportion of female employees. Over the years that position seems to have changed with IT and, more recently, Cyversecurity becoming male dominated, although I have worked with many excellent females in both disciplines. I'm not entirely sure what's driven that change.Another observation, having attended Astrofest last week, is that they managed to achieve a balance of 50-50 male-female professional and knowledgeable astrophysicists, astronomers, costmologist, etc. Other science events I've attended - IC, BAA, SPA, etc - also have a high proportion of female presenters. So I wonder, if many women who do study STEM subjects feel more comfortable in academic institutions with stronger DEI cultures rather than, say, IT organisations headed headed by men such as Musk, Gates etc?Just personal observations and perceptions, not a rigorous analysis so could be well off the mark - and wouldn't explain men not entering STEM jobs - but perhaps a basis for further discussion?
Michael Ixer ● 492d