Most Human resources employed in science and technology occupations (HRSTO) were technicians, being a sector where gender parity was achieved, as 51% of the human resources employed in an S&T occupation were female. These data show that in 2006, HRSTO accounted for almost one third of the total employed population.

Human resources employed in a science and technology occupation (HRSTO) constitute a highly skilled group of employees. The definition of this population is based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). HRSTO refers to persons occupied in one of the two broad ISCO classes:

• 2: “Professionals” (including, for example, mathematicians and medical doctors)
• 3: “Technicians and associate professionals” (including, for example, computer assistants)

These professionals constitute a pool of employees who participate actively in the development of S&T activities and technological innovation.

In general terms, the data published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat), show that in 2006 one third of the HRSTO in Sweden were found in the age group 50-64. Furthermore, HRSTO have grown most in Spain and Luxembourg in the last five years. The highest share of HRSTO was found in the education sector of economic activity, closely followed by the health and social work sector.

But this general situation was not homogeneous across the different EU Member States and clear disparities at national level can be observed.

Gender and Age

• In 2006, females were clearly more represented in HRSTO than in the rest of the employed population. On an EU average, close to 51% of the human resources employed in an S&T occupation were female. At the same time, the share of females in the rest of the employed population was under parity, i.e. 42%. None of the countries covered (consisting of the EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey) achieved parity in occupations other than those of professionals or technicians. Conversely, 19 countries out of 32 had a share of female HRSTO over 50%. Of the EU Member States, Lithuania is found at the top of the scale in terms of proportion of female HRSTO.
• In national terms, Sweden had the largest share of senior HRSTO, with one third of its professionals or technicians aged 50-64 in 2006. Croatia, Finland and Norway followed, with proportions of senior HRSTO around 30%. With the exception of Croatia, and alongside the remaining two Scandinavian countries Denmark and Iceland, these were also the countries with the largest shares of seniors in the rest of employment. The generation of baby boomers growing older could explain the ageing in these countries.

In absolute terms, four Member States (Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom) accounted for more than 50% of the highly qualified population in science and technology occupied as professionals, and for 60% of those employed as technicians. In relative terms and on average across the EU, HRSTO were more or less equally distributed between the occupations of technicians (53%) and of professionals (47%). Nevertheless, national disparities exist.

Countries do not display the same results when one looks at the share of scientists and engineers. On average across the EU, 18% of the total HRSTO population were scientists and engineers in 2006. The highest shares were found in Ireland (33%) and in Belgium (26%).

Over the period 2001 to 2006 the number of human resources employed in S&T increased at an annual average growth rate of 3% at EU level. In parallel, more than 31% of the employed population formed part of the HRSTO in 2006. Luxembourg and Spain had the highest annual average growth in HRSTO, with 6.1%.

The specific population of HRSTO plays an important role by contributing actively to the EU’s economic growth and productivity. This workforce is often considered to be a vital pool for potential innovation in the knowledge-based economy. In this scope, the European Commission has funded in 2008 the "Mind the Gap" Project in order to encourage careers in S&T.