Gender differences in occupational outcomes after master’s degree: Does a STEM degree moderate the gender gap?

This study examines gender disparities in the transition from university to the labour market among Italian master’s graduates, with a particular focus on the role of STEM fields in mitigating these gaps. Using AlmaLaurea data covering the period 2018–2023 for three Italian universities, two ordinal indicators of occupational outcomes one year after graduation are constructed: Job Skill Fit (the alignment between skills and job tasks) and Degree Training Fit (the consistency between educational background and employment). The empirical analysis relies on adjacent-category logit models with partial proportional odds, allowing a distinction between labour market entry and the quality of job matching. The findings reveal a persistent female disadvantage in the probability of securing employment within one year after graduation. However, once employed, women display similar probabilities to men of obtaining jobs consistent with their level of education and skills. STEM degrees emerge as a significant positive factor for both employability and matching quality, increasing the likelihood of transitioning into higher-skilled occupations. Nevertheless, the interaction between gender and STEM suggests that this advantage is insufficient to offset the initial gender gap in employment access. Overall, the results suggest that, although technical and scientific education improves average labour market outcomes, gender inequalities persist at the entry stage. This points to the need for targeted policies that not only foster female participation in STEM fields but also remove structural barriers to women’s initial access to employment.