Despite strong educational achievements, women in Germany remain underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers – an imbalance that fuels the gender pay gap, as these fields tend to offer higher wages. Beyond structural barriers, psychological factors such as confidence play a crucial role in shaping educational and labour market choices. Research suggests that gender differences in confidence help explain persistent inequalities, though these confidence gaps vary across contexts and domains.
Read the full article on the IAB-Forum: Why confidence matters: The hidden barrier for women in STEM