Missing out on half of the world’s potential: fewer female than male top achievers in mathematics and science want a career in these fields

Using IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 data, this brief explores the relationship between students’ gender, their confidence and achievement in mathematics and science, and their aspirations to pursue careers in these fields. The authors find that more boys than girls at grade 8 want to have a mathematics- or science-related job. Girls and boys who have high confidence in mathematics and science are significantly more likely to want to work in these fields than those with low confidence in mathematics. In addition, it is found that boys want to pursue a job involving mathematics as adults significantly more than girls of the same achievement level. This increased likelihood for boys holds across both high- and low-achievement groups. In comparison, there are smaller or no gender differences in the likelihood of pursuing a science-related career depending on achievement levels. The brief concludes with a discussion on the potential implications.