STEM Workers: Please Live Long and Prosper

Submitted on July 13, 2011 - 4:30pm
Printer-friendly version

Today we (the Economics and Statistics Administration here at the Commerce Department) released a report highlighting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers who drive our nation’s innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas, new companies and new industries.  (It’s only a coincidence that we are releasing this report a week before the Comic Con convention). 

This report is pretty cool in that it documents the growth and outlook of STEM jobs and profiles STEM workers, quantifying a bunch of things you might already suspect.  For instance:

  • Over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times faster than growth in non-STEM jobs. 
  • STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17.0 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8-percent growth for non-STEM occupations. 

Figure 1: Recent and Projected Growth in STEM and Non-STEM Employment

  • STEM workers earn about 25 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts.
  • STEM workers are less likely to experience joblessness than their non-STEM counterparts. 
  • In 2010, there were 7.6 million STEM workers in the United States, representing about 1 in 18 workers.
  • More than two-thirds of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to less than one-third of non-STEM workers.
  • STEM degree holders command higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations.

Figure 2: Regression-based Hourly Earnings Premiums for STEM Workers 1994-2010

As you can see, the report makes some pretty interesting reading. I’m taking it to the beach this weekend and so should you.

STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future is here.

~Mark Doms, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Commerce

July 14, 2011

Are you on Twitter? We are! Follow us at ESAGov for updates!