ABSTRACT
This study investigates the growth of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations driven by the expansion of the tertiary education system in Taiwan. Using national longitudinal data from 1979 to 2017 that surveyed the educational attainment and occupational choice of women in the labor market, we examine gender-based occupational choice in STEM fields and compare participation rates among women and men. Findings show associations among the increasing participation rate of women in STEM professions, the expansion of tertiary education, and delayed streaming at the upper secondary school level. This study concludes by suggesting that the disadvantages faced by women in STEM professions could be eased with transformative changes in the educational pipeline.
