Gendered Transition from STEM Education to Workforce: Access Does Not Guarantee Success

• In Event: STEM Education Pathways for Student Success

Abstract

This study explores gendered patterns in the education-to-workforce transition among STEM and non-STEM graduates. Using augmented propensity score weighting on a sample of 2,000 South Korean college graduates from 2009 to 2019, we found that female STEM graduates experienced more positive outcomes in earnings and full-time employment than female non-STEM graduates, and the relative gain was greater than those observed among male graduates. However, only male STEM graduates were more likely to find jobs related to their fields of study than their same-sex peers with non-STEM degrees. The findings suggest that STEM degrees yield varying benefits by gender. We further discuss the implications from the global and cultural perspectives.

Authors

• Juyoung Kim, University of Georgia

• Yunhee Jung, Catholic Kwandong University