Gender inequality remains a critical issue across the European Union, affecting classrooms, learning environments, and workplaces. Vocational education and training (VET) is no exception, with persistent gender imbalances that limit opportunities and hinder growth for all.
Stereotypes and systemic barriers exacerbate these disparities, particularly in STEM-related VET fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), where women remain significantly underrepresented. This imbalance not only infringes on the fundamental rights of more than half of Europe’s population but also hinders economic competitiveness, inclusivity, and growth.
Gender disparities, the facts
According to Cedefop’s data, in 2022, 41.9% of female upper secondary students in the EU were enrolled in initial VET (IVET), yet women made up only 15.5% of all STEM IVET students in the EU27. At the national level, participation rates of women in STEM IVET programmes were even lower: France: 13.8%, Spain: 9.2%, and Austria: 8.1%.
Meanwhile, the gender employment gap – the difference in the employment rates of men and women – remains high in several EU Member States, with male employment exceeding female employment by 19.8 percentage points in Greece, and 19.5 in Italy.
These figures highlight the urgent need for policies and actions that promote gender equality and balance in vocational education and employment.
Gender equality: a key priority for the EU
The European Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 highlights the need for gender balance in education and employment. The Council Recommendation on VET (2020) addresses these concerns and emphasises the importance of supporting women in STEM fields, to bridge the traditional divide between “male” and “female” jobs and encourage more women to pursue careers in male-dominated industries.
Gender diversity in VET is also linked to addressing Europe’s labour and skills shortages, particularly in fast-growing technical sectors such as engineering, ICT, and healthcare. Encouraging women to enter these fields is not only a matter of equality but also of economic necessity.
Who is affected?
Gender inequalities affect both the workforce and workplaces:
- Learners: women in VET programmes often face limited choices due to discriminatory social norms and stereotypes.
- Workplaces: companies struggle to attract diverse talent, especially in STEM and technical fields.
- Sectors: industries suffering from skill shortages, such as engineering and ICT, lack female professionals.
- Communities: gender-equal access to education strengthens social cohesion and economic development.
Cedefop and the VET gender gap: committed to change
Cedefop supports efforts to address gender imbalances in VET, by:
- Conducting research and policy analysis to provide evidence-based recommendations. For example, Cedefop’s research in 2020, first established a positive link between the development of a strong skills system and gender equality.
- Collecting information and data on gender policies in career guidance systems and services through its CareersNet network, as part of the inventory of lifelong guidance, systems, and practices.
- Monitoring the implementation of EU priorities by gathering information and data on national VET systems.
- Supporting lifelong learning initiatives that empower women to upskill and reskill for emerging fields.
- Developing toolkits, such as the VET Toolkit for empowering NEETs (young people not in employment, education, or training), alongside its intervention approach to help female NEETs (re)integrate into education, employment or training.
- Facilitating knowledge-sharing between Member States to promote best practices.
The road ahead: achieving lasting change
There is no sustainable growth without truly inclusive VET systems and workplaces. Urgent action is needed from policy makers and stakeholders to:
- Integrate gender-sensitive policies and actions from the classroom to the workplace, and from VET to lifelong learning.
- Expand awareness campaigns that showcase female role models in STEM and technical fields.
- Secure funding and incentives to turn national strategies into concrete action.
An inclusive VET system will unlock Europe’s full workforce potential, drive economic growth, and promote gender equality. Closing the gender gap in vocational education is not just a social goal, it is an economic imperative that will shape the future of work and innovation in the EU.
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