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Women in science and engineering

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Over the years, more and more women have been entering the fields of science and engineering. However, even though the majority of university undergraduates today are women, they are still under-represented in the pure sciences and in engineering at universities and in the work force. Attracting and retaining women is an industry-wide concern.

Indicators show that this imbalance is changing—slowly in some fields, more quickly in others. University enrolments are one indicator, as they show how many people are being trained to enter the work force in a particular field.

The architecture and engineering field, for example, has traditionally been male-dominated. But in the 2003/2004 academic year, university enrolment of women in this field was up 65% from 1992/1993. Women accounted for 23% of the total enrolment in this field in 2003/2004, compared with 19% in 1992/1993.

Similarly, in the physical and life sciences, enrolment of women was up 46% from 1992/1993. Moreover, since 1996/1997, the demographics have shifted even further: more women are now enrolled in this discipline than men.

Employment figures are another indicator of changing trends. These figures still show that a significant gender imbalance exists in the science and engineering work force.

The increased enrolment of women in university science and engineering programs has not yet translated into similar shifts in the work force, particularly in engineering. In 2005, industry figures put the proportion of licensed female professional engineers at around only 9%.