Biggest barriers to STEM career revealed

More than half of Irish adults believe people from disadvantaged backgrounds face the greatest barriers to entering STEM careers.

That was the outcome of a new survey from STEM South West, a not-for-profit organisation promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) education and careers, which was released to coincide with the STEM Showcase Expo 2025 at City Hall recently.

The expo is a flagship event celebrating innovation and showcasing opportunities across Ireland's STEM sector. More than 5,000 students, teachers, STEM professionals, parents and businesses are expected to attend this year’s event, more than double the attendance of the event last year, which the organisers said demonstrates a growing appetite for information and guidance on STEM and the opportunities it can create.

Respondents to the STEM South West survey were asked which group they believe faces the biggest barriers to a career in STEM:

· Gender imbalance in STEM appears to be of greatest concern to Ireland’s 25 to 34 year olds – 1 in 5 of whom said they believe women face the greatest challenges – higher than the national average of 14%

· Across every region and age group, socio-economic disadvantage was seen as the single biggest barrier to pursuing a career in STEM. The perception was strongest among older adults, with two-thirds (67%) of those aged 55 and above, stating people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds face the greatest struggles, compared with just one-third (34%) of 18 to 24 year olds

· Across Ireland, economic disadvantage was most frequently cited as a barrier by respondents in Dublin (62%), with slightly lower recognition in the rest of Leinster (58%) Connacht and Ulster (60%), and Munster (52%)

· A further 21% of respondents identified rural communities as facing obstacles to STEM careers, a reflection, perhaps, of access challenges and fewer local STEM-related opportunities.

Mary Good, Chair of STEM South West said: “These results underline what many in the industry already know: talent is universal, but opportunity is not.

“Whether it is limited access to resources, fewer role models, or simple geography, too many people still see STEM as something other people do. If we are serious about inclusion, we must ensure that background, postcode, or gender never determines a person's potential.”

The survey also found a split in opinion on whether Ireland should introduce quotas or targets to boost female participation in STEM leadership roles, with 48% in favour and 52% opposed, indicating strong debate about how to drive equality in practice.

Ms Good said the findings reflect a complex balance between fairness, merit, and opportunity.

Ireland has made progress on gender representation in leadership, with the Gender Balance on Boards Regulations (2025) requiring listed companies to achieve at least 40% female non-executive directors or 33% female representation overall by June 2026.

Ms Good said that these regulations apply only to publicly listed firms adding: “In most private businesses, where much of Ireland's STEM talent works, participation remains unreported.”

STEM South West, founded in 2019, is a not-for-profit initiative connecting education and industry to inspire the next generation of STEM talent.

The organisation brings together schools, universities, businesses, and communities across the South West to promote science, technology, engineering, and maths as essential pathways to Ireland's future workforce.

John Morrissy, CIO PepsiCo, who were platinum sponsors of the expo, said: “Events like the STEM South West Expo play a vital role in changing perceptions, not only by showcasing technology and innovation, but by showing young people, especially girls, that they belong in STEM, and that these careers are for them.”