New Report Highlights Crucial Role of Upskilling in Tackling Gender Imbalance in Ireland’s Health Technology Sector

An impactful new report from Irish Medtech Skillnet, First Polymer Training Skillnet, and Connected Health Skillnet has highlighted the crucial role of upskilling in addressing the ongoing gender imbalance in Ireland’s STEM sectors. The 'Empowering Women in STEM' report, conducted by Xenon Health Solutions on behalf of the three Skillnet Ireland Business Networks, presents a detailed analysis of gender representation challenges and solutions within the health technology industry. 

The report comes at a pivotal time of expansion for Ireland’s STEM industries. The study found that despite a skills shortage in the sector, women remain significantly underrepresented, especially in leadership and technical roles. While the number of female STEM graduates in Ireland is increasing, just one in four STEM professionals in the workforce are women. This disparity is even more pronounced for leadership roles, where women hold just 19% of CEO positions in large enterprises. 

Among the key recommendations outlined in the report are: 

Provision of training and education opportunities for women with leadership aspirations, to address skills and qualification gaps that may be hindering career progression. 

Implementation of unconscious bias training within businesses to foster a more inclusive workplace culture. 

Adoption of flexible working policies to support better work-life balance and attract a diverse workforce. 

Development of structured career pathways to facilitate the advancement and retention of female talent. 

Use of the ‘Best Practice Checklist’ developed by the study to guide companies in achieving their gender equity objectives. 

Commenting on the importance of the research, Dave Flynn, Skillnet Ireland Director of Business Networks, said: “This report highlights the critical need to strengthen and diversify Ireland’s STEM talent pipeline, particularly within the rapidly evolving health technology sector. This sector is vital to Ireland’s economy, and ensuring it is inclusive and future-ready is a key priority for Skillnet Ireland. We are committed to supporting women in STEM by providing targeted development opportunities that empower individuals and drive innovation.” 

Dr Ann O’Connell, Head of Funded Projects for Medtech and Engineering at Ibec, and Network manager for Irish Medtech Skillnet, said: “This report re-emphasises the need for gender equity across the Health Technology sectors and offers informed insights to support companies in developing an effective gender representation strategy. The underrepresentation of women and girls in STEM is a lost opportunity for innovation, growth, and global impact at a time when the world faces unprecedented health challenges. As the sector continues to expand, this report will serve as a key resource, guiding efforts toward fostering a more balanced representation of gender within the health technology ecosystem.” 

Jackie Murphy, Vice President, Manufacturing Plant Manager, Alcon and Chair of Irish Medtech, said "Continuing to promote gender equality in STEM is vital for advancing women in the industry. When women are empowered and given equal opportunities, they contribute significantly to innovation and leadership. Their advancement not only enriches the field but also drives progress and sets a precedent for future generations. Undertaking the work in generating a report like this baselines the current state of play and importantly acknowledges the progress made to date but also serves as a motivator to drive towards greater advancement and progression for women within STEM and industry as a whole" 

The report revealed that girls in Ireland continue to opt out of STEM subjects at an early stage, with only 29% of girls choosing a STEM subject beyond maths or science in secondary school. Despite earning STEM degrees, women often face barriers to career progression, with leadership representation significantly lagging male counterparts. Industry respondents cited a lack of flexible work options, unconscious bias, and limited mentorship opportunities as key obstacles preventing women from advancing in health technology careers. Meanwhile, 40% of surveyed companies lack formal gender equity strategies, highlighting an urgent need for industry-wide policy shifts. 

A total of 207 health technology industry representatives and 49 educators participated in this research. Their feedback underscores the importance of early intervention in schools, structured mentorship programmes, and company-led diversity initiatives. 

The full ‘Empowering Women in STEM’ report is now available for download at here.