{"id":32300,"date":"2020-10-28T07:50:43","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T21:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aumanufacturing.com.au\/?p=32300"},"modified":"2021-01-14T13:08:27","modified_gmt":"2021-01-14T02:38:27","slug":"industry-cadetships-a-good-but-small-step-to-tap-the-talents-of-women-in-stem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aumanufacturing.com.au\/industry-cadetships-a-good-but-small-step-to-tap-the-talents-of-women-in-stem","title":{"rendered":"Industry cadetships: a good but small step to tap the talents of women in STEM"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Pi-Shen Seet<\/a>, Edith Cowan University<\/a> and Janice Jones<\/a>, Flinders University<\/a><\/p>\n An overarching criticism of the recent federal budget is that it overlooked the workers hit hardest<\/a> by the COVID-19 pandemic, namely women. However, the budget includes one promising, albeit small, initiative that focuses on this group. The government announced a cadetship program<\/a> to help women to upskill in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), or to build a STEM career.<\/p>\n As part of the JobMaker scheme, the budget allocates A$25 million over five years to create pathways to STEM careers for up to 500 women through industry-sponsored, advanced apprenticeship-style courses<\/a>. Collaborations between employers and VET providers and\/or universities will deliver these \u201csandwiched programs\u201d combining study and work. Women will be able to get career experience and a salary while obtaining an industry-relevant, advanced diploma in a STEM field.<\/p> This scheme should help increase female participation in STEM-related learning and careers. Because more women than men enrol<\/a> in higher-level VET qualifications \u2013 diplomas or advanced diplomas \u2013 it\u2019s expected to be attractive to them.<\/p>\n To be competitive in a world increasingly driven and underpinned by technology, Australia must invest in STEM skills to meet evolving industry workforce needs. STEM jobs are growing nearly twice as fast<\/a> as non-STEM jobs and the trend is set to continue.<\/p>\n It\u2019s notable that people in STEM occupations hold more qualifications<\/a> than those in non-STEM occupations. However, difficulties in recruitment for STEM jobs suggest a looming national shortage<\/a> of qualifications and technical skills. Low female aspiration for, and participation<\/a> in, STEM education and careers compound this problem.<\/p> In 2016, VET qualifications at diploma level or above were most common among women in the areas of commerce, hospitality and human welfare. Numbers in STEM areas such as engineering and IT<\/a> were very low. Even women with certificate III\/IV qualifications in engineering were more likely<\/a> to work in sales and services than as technicians.<\/p>\n In short, Australia loses female talent at every stage of the STEM pipeline.<\/p>\nWhy is the gender gap in STEM such a problem?<\/h2>\n