Technology 10 years on: Career paths and career outcomes of STEM students

For more than 10 years, technical profiles have formed the majority of the annually published bottleneck professions. In order to get a return on effort in the field of STEM and ensure that the needs of the labour market are met, it is important that STEM graduates find their way to STEM jobs. The focus of this assignment is therefore on the career paths and career outcomes for school-leavers, with special attention to former students on STEM courses at different educational levels.

In this study, the matches and mismatches with regard to STEM in Flanders are measured and factors are identified that determine career choices and career outcomes. In doing so, we look at factors that lead to mismatch as well as factors that make STEM work especially appealing (also for side entry into STEM professions from other specialisations). The study also will also highlight which of these factors can be influenced by external parties (policy, stakeholders), so that effective and relevant actions can be worked out by these parties, if desired.