This book investigates the contexts of gender segregation in vocational education (VET) from a cross-national, comparative perspective. It tackles questions about occupational expectations, gendered pathways to applied fields of study, feminization of occupations and the relationship between educational choice and opportunity structures.

Austria is one of the countries with persistently high gender segregation in combination with a high matching of training and occupations. In this context, we analyse how educational and occupational segregation interact in the male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in the female-dominated areas of education, health and welfare (EHW). We discuss how atypical education can reduce gender segregation in the labour market and whether automation risks affect women and men in STEM and EHW differently. Firstly, our analysis shows that educational segregation is heavily transmitted to the occupational system in this fields. Secondly, the results point to the potential of gender-atypical fields for reducing segregation but also to their limitations especially since we find a double mismatch for women in STEM. Based on findings from digitalisation and automation research, we find that women are overrepresented in STEM jobs focussing on manual routine tasks which are more likely to be automated than the jobs primarily performed by men. While EHW is less prone to automation in general, the distribution of tasks between men and women indicates vertical segregation despite EHW being a female-dominated sector.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-521/ Both the labour markets and the education systems in the Nordic countries are highly gender segregated. This gender segregation has consequences for study and working conditions, pay, and the distribution of power and resources. Combating gender bias is one of the strategic areas of intervention in official Nordic cooperation in the area of gender equality. The Nordic Council of Ministers co-operation body NIKK was commissioned to conduct a study focusing on gender segregation in VET in the Nordic countries. The study provides an introduction to what we know about VET and gender as an area of knowledge, describes how VET in the Nordic countries is organised, and gives examples of how these countries have worked to break patterns of gender segregation and to retain pupils who belong to the under-represented sex. The study also includes a concluding analysis section.

As the economic growth and social development of a nation is reliant on its workforce, it is essential to increase the workforce’s employability through technical and vocational education. Through these programs, the nation’s workers will be able to acquire skills and flexibility in order to navigate across sectors of the economy and industry. However, due to gender disparities and socioeconomic statuses within society, women from a lower economic background are unable to gain access to these programs, hindering their career development and economic independence. Gender Issues in Technical and Vocational Education Programs is an essential critical resource that probes the issue of gender equity in specialized educational programs, such as vocational or technical education programs. It also presents global initiatives that are being undertaken to enhance the access to technical and vocational education programs to all citizens. Divided into two sections, this publication provides comprehensive coverage on understanding human resource skilling through vocational and training programs and promoting gender equity through skill development, making it an ideal resource for academicians, researchers, social scientists, educators, policymakers, government officials, and professionals.

The emphasis on vocational education and access to different types of vocational training across demographic groups vary considerably around the world. Gender, racial and ethnic patterns prevail and these set the stage for new research on vocational education and for new policy initiatives that create new opportunities for specialization in vocational training. This e-book covers major topics regarding gender and racial differences in vocational training, and provides perspective for researchers, educators, and policymakers by addressing the imbalances in access to training and types of traini.

Even though women have made substantial progress in a number of formerly male occupations, sex segregation in the workplace remains a fact of life. This volume probes pertinent questions: Why has the overall degree of sex segregation remained stable in this century? What informal barriers keep it in place? How do socialization and educational practices affect career choices and hiring patterns? How do family responsibilities affect women's work attitudes? And how effective is legislation in lessening the gap between the sexes? Amply supplemented with tables, figures, and insightful examination of trends and research, this volume is a definitive source for what is known today about sex segregation on the job.

This volume contains contributions presented at the international conference «Gender Perspectives on Vocational Education» (19-21 August 1999, Aarau). The main focus is on gender aspects in vocational education - particularly health care education - and further education. Authors from different countries discuss the influence of gender on vocational education and present research results and political reform projects. Drawing on international comparisons an outlook on gender equality in the fields of vocational education and work is offered. The articles particularly emphasize how equal rights for men and women can be put into practice in various occupations.