Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM: Challenges and Prospects

Companies struggle to find women talent in STEM fields due to lack of family support, higher education costs, and societal biases. Industry experts suggest that changing societal perceptions and providing encouragement and resources from a young age could help address this disparity and foster a diverse and innovative workforce.

Companies are facing significant challenges in recruiting women for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) roles, largely due to societal and cultural factors, industry experts say.

According to Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services, lack of family support and higher education costs are key barriers, but the primary issues are early-age discouragement, limited role models, and inadequate support for women entering STEM fields.

Nupur Goenka, executive director at Tally Solutions, noted that continuous education is more of a privilege than a right for women, adding that societal views on women's roles must change fundamentally to create a supportive environment for women in STEM.

Kapil Joshi, Deputy CEO of IT Staffing at Quess, highlighted some improvements in gender ratios in STEM across colleges, but noted several societal and geopolitical challenges remain. Joshi emphasized that addressing the gender skill gap in STEM is crucial for India's economic future as many future jobs will require STEM skills.

(With inputs from agencies.)