Member Login - Account - Logout

Science and Technology Australia
  • Home
  • About STA
    • Who is STA?
    • Our history
    • Alliances and Partnerships
    • Board and Executive
    • Governance
    • Work for us
    • Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science meets Parliament
    • Science meets Policymakers
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshop
    • STEM Ambassadors
  • Events
    • STA events
    • Member events
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Join STA
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
    • Media
  • Home
  • About STA
    • Who is STA?
    • Our history
    • Alliances and Partnerships
    • Board and Executive
    • Governance
    • Work for us
    • Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Reports and publications
  • Our Programs
    • Science meets Parliament
    • Science meets Policymakers
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
    • Super STEM communicator workshop
    • STEM Ambassadors
  • Events
    • STA events
    • Member events
  • Membership
    • Our Members
    • Why be a member?
    • Member Benefits Program
    • Join STA
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
    • Media
22 May 2020

Pandemic risks wiping out hard-won gains by women in STEM

Women in STEM RIFF

Hard won gains for women’s advancement in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workforce are now at risk of a major setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even before the pandemic hit, women were under-represented in STEM. Early evidence from during the shutdown suggests women in the STEM sector have suffered even greater job losses than men.

It also points to women carrying a greater share of responsibilities for caring and distance learning duties during isolation.

Australia’s scientific and technical services industry recorded job losses of 5.6% from mid-March to mid-April 2020, with jobs down 6.3% for women compared with 4.8% for men in this field.

The findings are in a research report requested by the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, published today.

The report was produced by the Rapid Research Information Forum, a group of 35 research sector led organisations. The forum is chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, and its operations are led by the Australian Academy of Science.

Lead author Professor Emma Johnston AO FTSE, Dean of Science at UNSW Sydney, said the peer-reviewed report confirms an urgent need for STEM employers to closely monitor and mitigate the gender impact of the pandemic on jobs and careers – or the hard work over many years to recruit and retain more women in STEM could be undone.

“The challenges are likely to be most acute for women in STEM with children under 12,” Professor Johnston said.

“The combination of juggling working from home while supervising distance learning for children has made women’s well documented ‘double burden’ even greater again.”

Science & Technology Australia (STA) and Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) collaboratively led the women in STEM RRIF report.

ATSE Chief Executive Officer, Kylie Walker said diversity in the workforce is integral to higher quality and more resilient STEM research and application.

“The diverse perspectives that women bring to the STEM sector enable and drive better outcomes for scientific and technology-based industries,” Ms Walker said.

Science & Technology Australia CEO Misha Schubert said job insecurity was even more of a risk for women than men in the STEM workforce.

“With casual and short-term contract jobs likely to be the first to go, women are at particular risk – with women in STEM one and a half times more likely to be in insecure jobs,” she said.

The co-authors agreed the report was a reminder to STEM employers about the need for them to be vigilant on gender equity or they risk losing their hard-won gains.

The report synthesises the available evidence base on this matter, has been informed by experts and has been peer reviewed. Details of the report’s contributors can be found in the report’s appendix.

Read the report

Read other reports from the RRIF.

Share
Previous StoryEngaging with Parliament in the time of COVID-19 | Webinar
Next StoryKeep it Moving through COVID19

Related Articles

  • Paul Fletcher MP speaks at National Science Week Launch
    Shadow Science Minister Paul Fletcher's speech at National Science Week launch
  • National Science Week events
    National Science Week 2022 events

ABOUT US

Science & Technology Australia (STA) is Australia’s peak body in science and technology. We represent more than 80,000 scientists and technologists. STA is an influential voice for evidence and expertise in public policy.

Recent news

  • Shadow Science Minister Paul Fletcher’s speech at National Science Week launch
  • National Science Week 2022 events
  • Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles’ speech to launch National Science Week

Our members

  • All Members
  • Agricultural and Food Sciences
  • Aquatic Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences
  • General Science and Technology
  • Geographical and Geological Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Medical and Cognitive Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
  • Plant and Ecological Sciences
  • Technological Sciences

Search for news

Most popular

  • Nominations open for the STA Policy Committee and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
  • Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles’ speech to launch National Science Week
  • Australians back science to stem tide of misinformation
  • Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic’s speech to launch National Science Week
  • Outstanding science leaders appointed to STA STEM-sector committees

Sign up to our newsletter

STA PRIVACY POLICY

OTHER STA POLICIES

Twitter feed

  • RT @hcatchpole: Applications close Monday! Don't delay
  • RT @drhollyt: Applications are closing soon! Let me know if you want to know more about the program. This has easily been the highlight of…
  • Celebrate National #ScienceWeek with some of our incredible #SuperstarsofSTEM 💫. @HannahMRobin, @nicolem_white,… https://t.co/44Nw7JnNip
  • RT @hollycultivate: What an excellent initiative! The program is growing a critical mass of more diverse celebrity scientists to inspire…
Follow us
The Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) trading as Science & Technology Australia (STA) is an association incorporated under the ACT Associations Act.

ABN 71 626 822 845
Registered charity logo
Click here for more info
  • HOME
  • News and media releases
  • Become a member
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2019 Science & Technology Australia. All Rights Reserved