Abstract
Despite the shrinking gaps in STEM educational attainments worldwide, women and men still have different chances of starting their careers in STEM. Having a degree in STEM does not guarantee employment, and one of the weakest joints in the STEM pipeline is the connection between education and employment. To address the problem of underrepresentation of women in STEM occupations, it is important to understand what experiences women have compared to men, which factors determine whether they continue into STEM-related employment or leave the profession soon after graduation, and what unique challenges they face when employed in STEM jobs. This study focuses, in particular, on understanding the transition of STEM university graduates to first employment, paying attention to the gender differences in STEM graduates’ experiences. The key lessons from the study are useful for decision-makers in employing organizations to develop certain policies facilitating women’s successful transition, retention, and performance in STEM jobs.