Europe is short 2 million STEM professionals

and the gap is growing

Europe is currently short of 2 million science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals, and the gap is only widening. As demand for highly skilled workers in these fields escalates, the European Union is stepping up efforts to address this critical challenge through its new STEM Education Strategic Plan.

A Science|Business article - published on 20 March 2025 - highlights the scale of the challenge:

•  The European Commission estimates a need for 2 million additional science and engineering professionals
•  In secondary schools, only 25% of students are currently in STEM – the goal is 45% by 2030
•  In universities, the target is 32% STEM enrolment

Robert-Jan Smits, outgoing president of the executive board at Eindhoven University of Technology, emphasizes the gravity of the problem: “Even if we double our graduates, it still wouldn’t be enough.” He warns that in regions like Eindhoven alone, the industry will require an additional 10,000 university-trained engineers by 2030 — a demand unlikely to be met. This shortfall risks slowing growth in key sectors such as the semiconductor industry.

EU’s Strategic Response

The STEM Education Strategic Plan aims to:
•    Anchor STEM disciplines firmly in national education policies across member states
•    Boost the number of students pursuing STEM subjects at all educational levels
•    Attract international STEM researchers and professionals through pilot programs and targeted visa strategies

As Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu explains, Europe’s workforce is shrinking due to aging demographics, while industry demand for STEM skills continues to rise. “There is a demographic reality that tells us we are losing active labour force due to aging, and industries need much more capacity,” she notes.

International Talent: A Key Part of the Solution

Experts agree that domestic education reform alone won’t fill the gap. The EU recognizes the importance of attracting STEM talent from abroad. The Commission has introduced several pilot initiatives to lure international researchers and professionals, including:
•    Funding through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions to support PhDs and postdoctoral researchers coming to Europe
•    A new visa strategy designed to make it easier for STEM professionals to work in the EU

Ivana Didak, head of higher education policy at The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, highlights the potential of these pilots but urges continued support for both inward and outward mobility of researchers to maximize benefits.

Seizing Opportunities Amid Global Shifts

The EU may also benefit from shifting global dynamics, particularly in relation to the United States. Historically, Europe has seen a "brain drain" with researchers moving to the US, but recent political changes there create an opening for the EU to attract transatlantic STEM talent. Smits notes, “You have to go for it, as just for demographic reasons we can’t get enough engineers, so we need to shop somewhere else.”

Moving from Strategy to Action

The EU STEM Coalition is working closely with national platforms and stakeholders across Europe to translate these strategic goals into concrete, scalable actions. The coalition aims to foster collaboration, share best practices, and advocate for policies that secure Europe’s future competitiveness in science and technology.

Read the full article via Science|Business, published on 20 March 2025: https://lnkd.in/dSQbdKaH

_{Published on stemcoalition.eu on June 5, 2025}