Employer and Employee Perceptions of the Retention of Female Scientists and Engineers in Industry

Abstract: This study aims to assess employee and employer perceptions of the entry of South Korean female scientists and engineers (S&Es) into industry. It is based on a survey of 300 employees and 300 employers currently working in science- and engineering-related companies. Most female S&Es face many social and cultural obstacles when seeking work and career promotion, especially from lower-ranked positions. However, those women who have already entered industry show unexpectedly high levels of self-confidence and excellent job achievement. Furthermore, employers tend to acknowledge the importance of women’s unique role in contributing to the fields of science and engineering, leading to more opportunities for female S&Es to enter the male-dominated science and engineering world. However, social and cultural hurdles encountered by female S&Es as a minority, for example, night duties, dealing with mechanical devices, and the chilly climate, should be resolved before women’s interests can be further promoted