Diversity is well established to be incredibly important for boosting the scientific output of a nation. A new report from the U.S. National Science Foundation highlights the diversity trends in both STEM education and employment.
The report shows increased diversity in STEM workforce with more women and underrepresented groups (Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, and people with disabilities) in STEM jobs and higher degree attainment in science and engineering fields over the past decade.
However, these groups remain underrepresented in STEM compared to their overall US population, highlighting larger equity issues. Equal access to STEM jobs is crucial as they offer higher wages and lower unemployment rates, regardless of demographic factors such as sex, race, ethnicity, or disability.
“A highlight of this year’s edition of Diversity and STEM is the use of a broader definition of ‘STEM work’, providing a better understanding of STEM representation by different demographic groups,” the researchers explain. “For the first time, we count in STEM statistics all groups whose work requires a high level of technical knowledge, regardless of their degree.”
Gradual progress
The report highlights progress for women and Hispanics in the STEM workforce and higher education but notes variation across STEM occupations and fields. Women have lower representation in computer/mathematical sciences, physical/biological sciences, and engineering compared to social sciences.
Underrepresented minorities make up a third of STEM jobs without a college degree but face low salaries and high unemployment. People with disabilities make up 3% of the STEM workforce, with increased numbers since 2011 but unchanged representation from a decade prior.
Today, the STEM workforce is composed of 35% women (12.3 million), 24% underrepresented minorities (8.3 million), and 3% people with disabilities (1 million).
Evolving situation
Women earned 50% of science and engineering bachelor’s degrees and 49% of associate degrees. They made up 35% of the STEM workforce and had lower wages than men. During the COVID-19 pandemic, women, as well as Hispanic and Black students, continued to pursue advanced degrees in STEM fields in growing numbers. 31% of the US population was made up of Hispanic, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native people, but they only made up 24% of the STEM workforce in 2021.
These groups were more likely to work in STEM jobs requiring technical skills or certification, rather than a bachelor’s degree or higher education. The median earnings of Hispanic, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native STEM workers were lower than white or Asian STEM workers. Hispanic students made significant progress in earning associate’s degrees in science and engineering fields, tripling the number of degrees awarded between 2011 and 2020, and making up 32% of all degrees awarded in these fields. 63% of Hispanics in STEM had jobs not requiring a four-year degree, making up 24% of those workers.
The unemployment rates in 2021 for Black (6.6%) and Hispanic (5.7%) STEM workers were higher than for white (2.9%) and Asian (2.3%) workers. American Indian and Alaska Native students saw a decline in the number and proportion of bachelor’s degrees awarded in science and engineering fields between 2011 and 2020. 21% of workers with disabilities worked in STEM occupations in 2021, and 3% of the STEM workforce were people with disabilities. 11% of science and engineering doctorate recipients in 2021 reported having at least one disability.
