A growing confidence gap is emerging among girls in Ireland’s schools, with many questioning their ability to succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The latest survey shows that this concern is becoming a significant barrier to future STEM participation, even as demand for digital skills continues to rise.
Survey finds confidence is a growing barrier for girls in STEM
The findings come from the 2026 I Wish Survey of Female Students’ Attitudes to STEM. The research gathered responses from 1,660 primary pupils and 662 secondary students through the I Wish app. It was analysed by psychology researchers Jen O’Shea and Ella Doran of University College Cork.
Six in 10 respondents said a lack of confidence in their STEM subject ability could discourage them from pursuing a career in the sector. That figure has increased steadily, rising from 50 per cent in 2024 to 55 per cent in 2025 and 60 per cent this year.
The survey identifies confidence as one part of a wider challenge. Girls also pointed to gender inequality and limited information about STEM careers as major obstacles.
- 60 per cent cited low confidence in their STEM ability.
- 66 per cent identified gender inequality as a barrier.
- 66 per cent said they lacked information about STEM career options.
Access to STEM subjects differs sharply between schools
The report also highlights differences in subject availability, particularly for pupils attending single-sex schools. Hands-on and technology-focused subjects are considerably less accessible in those schools than in mixed-gender settings.
Only 27 per cent of girls in single-sex schools surveyed had access to computer science at Leaving Certificate level, compared with more than 60 per cent in mixed-gender schools. Access to technology subjects stood at 23 per cent in single-sex schools, while participation was above 60 per cent in mixed-gender schools.
The report said the gap extends to practical subjects, including construction studies, engineering, and design and communication graphics. Limited exposure can affect more than subject choice: it may also shape whether students can picture themselves working in technical professions.
For students and families navigating Ireland’s education system, the findings underline the importance of checking which STEM subjects are available before senior-cycle decisions are made. Subject access can vary substantially between schools, so information from guidance counsellors and school admissions offices remains important.
Women remain underrepresented in Ireland’s digital workforce
The survey comes as Ireland faces strong expected demand for digital specialists. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government projects substantial growth in digital specialist jobs over the next four years.
Women currently account for only about one-fifth of that workforce, according to the figures referenced at the survey’s launch. The imbalance has implications for employers, education policymakers and the wider Irish economy, particularly as technology becomes more important across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, public services and research.
Encouraging more girls into STEM is therefore not only an education issue. It is also linked to workforce planning, skills shortages and equal access to well-paid career opportunities.
More women are entering STEM degrees, but progress remains uneven
There is evidence of gradual improvement at third level. Women represented 31 per cent of entrants to STEM undergraduate programmes in 2018. By 2025, that proportion had risen to 36 per cent.
However, the survey suggests that progress in higher education does not remove the barriers experienced earlier in the school system. Confidence, subject availability and awareness of career pathways can influence decisions long before a student applies to college.
Schools, families and policymakers may need to address several issues together:
- Provide equal access to computer science, technology and practical engineering subjects.
- Give students clearer information about the range of STEM careers.
- Challenge assumptions that technical subjects are more suitable for boys.
- Offer visible female role models and hands-on learning opportunities.
- Support confidence-building alongside academic instruction.
What happens next for STEM education in Ireland?
The survey places renewed focus on how schools deliver STEM education and how career guidance is provided. Increasing participation will require more than encouraging girls to choose technical subjects; students must also have genuine access to those subjects and understand where they can lead.
The Government’s digital workforce plans make the issue more urgent. If women remain significantly underrepresented in specialist roles, Ireland could miss opportunities to broaden its talent base and create a more balanced technology sector.
Frequently asked questions
What is the I Wish survey?
It is an annual survey examining female students’ attitudes towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The 2026 study included primary and secondary students who responded through the I Wish app.
What is the main barrier identified by students?
Sixty per cent said a lack of confidence in their STEM ability was a barrier to pursuing a career in the sector. Gender inequality and limited career information were each identified by 66 per cent.
Do girls in all schools have the same access to STEM subjects?
No. The survey found substantially lower access to computer science and technology at Leaving Certificate level among girls in single-sex schools than among students in mixed-gender schools.
Are more women entering STEM degrees?
Yes. Women accounted for 36 per cent of STEM undergraduate entrants in 2025, compared with 31 per cent in 2018.
Why this matters for Ireland
The latest findings show that Ireland has made progress in women’s participation in STEM higher education, but confidence and opportunity gaps remain at school level. Closing those gaps will require consistent access to subjects, practical learning and accurate career guidance.
The central message is clear: Ireland cannot meet its future digital skills needs unless girls are given both the opportunity and the confidence to see STEM as a career pathway.