The supply of talented women entering science, engineering and technology is surprisingly deep and rich. A study, which I co-wrote, to be published next month by the Harvard Business Review shows that 41 per cent of highly qualified specialists on the lower rungs of corporate career ladders in these areas in the US are female. In spite of the challenges girls face at school and in the employment culture, a significant number conjure up the commitment to begin careers in science.
These women are becoming more important to employers. Labour shortages in these fields are worsening around the world. The European Union is projecting a shortfall of 20m skilled workers by 2030 – most in technical fields. In Germany, 22,000 engineering positions are unfilled because of a shortage of qualified applicants, with an estimated annual loss of $4.8bn (€3.1bn, £2.5bn) to the economy. Not long ago, employers could turn to foreign-born engineers and scientists to fill their talent gap. This is becoming much more difficult. Rapid growth in Asia has created a reverse brain drain of professionals returning home.
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