IEEE-USA ELECTRONIC INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 95-21, April 20, 1995 1990 CENSUS DATA SHOWS TRENDS FOR NON-ACADEMIC SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS The National Science Foundation recently released a 15 page report, entitled "Nonacademic Scientists and Engineers: Trends from the 1980 and 1990 Censuses" (NSF 95-306), which provides an interesting overview of the science and engineering profession and trends for scientists and engineers employed in the non- academic sector. The report is based on data gleaned from the 1990 U.S. Census, which is compared to data from the 1980 census. Among the report's highlights: OVERALL GROWTH OF THE PROFESSION AND BY OCCUPATION: Overall, the size of the non-academic science and engineering profession increased by 64.4 percent from 2.14 million in 1980 to 3.51 million in 1990. The number of engineers of all disciplines increased 40 percent from 1,353,2000 in 1980 to 1,894,400 in 1990. Electrical and electronics engineers increased 62.4 percent from 1980 to 1990, from 315,200 to 511,800. Aerospace engineers increased 87.2 percent from 85.2 million in 1980 to 159.6 million in 1990. The large growth with in the computer field. Computer systems analysts and computer scientists increased 150 percent from 194,100 in 1980 to 485,200 in 1990. Operations and systems research and analysts saw the most rapid growth of any science and engineering field, increasing over 250 percent from 78,100 in 1980 to 273,400 in 1990. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION: The number of non-academic scientists and engineers increased between 1980 and 1990 in all geographic regions of the Country and all states except Wyoming. The fastest growth occurred in the South Atlantic Region (98.1 percent) followed by the Pacific Region (76.5 percent). The slowest growth occurred in the East North Central region (i.e. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin), with a growth rate of 41.1 percent. States with a population of at least 50,000 scientists and engineers that boasted the fastest rate of growth were Florida (122.9 percent), North Carolina (121.8 percent), Georgia (111.7 percent), Arizona (108.3 percent), and Virginia (107.3 percent). EDUCATION: The education levels among non-academic scientists and engineers increased notably between 1980 and 1990. The percentage with a high school degree or less declined from 13.3 percent to 7.4 percent. Non-academic scientists and engineers with some college and/or associate's degree increased from 20.6 percent to 22.6 percent. The number with Bachelor's degrees increased from 44.3 percent to 44.8 percent. The number who have completed some graduate study (including masters, Ph.D.s, and/or other professional degrees) increased from 21.8 percent to 25.1 percent. AGE: The average age of the non-academic science and engineering work force increased between 1980 and 1990. The following table compares the percentage of non-academic scientists and engineers in different age ranges: AGE: 1980 1990 <30 25.3% 22.6% 30-39 32.5 32.6 40-49 20.7 22.4 50-64 20.2 17.5 64+ 1.3 4.9 ETHNIC MINORITIES AND WOMEN: Women as a percentage of the non- academic science and engineering work force increased from 12.6 percent in 1980 to 22.2 percent in 1990. Among racial and ethic minorities, blacks increased from 3.2 percent to 4.4 percent of the work force between 1980 and 1990. Hispanics increased from 2.2 percent to 3.1 percent. Persons of Asian origin increased from 4.2 percent to 6 percent. EMPLOYMENT: The percentage of self-employed non-academic scientists and engineers in all occupations and at all educational levels increased from 4 percent in 1980 to 6.1 percent in 1990. The percentage share of all other non-academic employers declined slightly, with companies (private and non-profit) employing 71 percent, the Federal Government 10.2 percent, and state and local governments 8.2 percent. As noted above, the report does not encompass scientists and engineers employed in academia. EARNINGS: Median real earnings remained essentially flat for all major non-academic science and engineering occupations from 1979-1989. During that period, non-academic engineers of all ages holding a bachelor's degree or higher saw their median earnings decline 0.6 percent to $42,000. This trend was not mirrored among the overall work force where median income for all employed persons with a Bachelor's degree or higher rose 27.5 percent from 1979-1989 (to a median salary of $28,000). Age apparently played a significant role in determining the growth or decline of earnings. Non-academic engineers with a Bachelor's degree or higher who were under 40 years of age saw a real increase of 2.2 percent from 1979-1989 to reflect median earnings of $38,000. Older engineers (40+ years of age) with the same educational background experienced a decrease of 1.3 percent over the same ten years to a median earnings level of $50,000. Among non-academic math and computer sciences, median salaries among scientists aged 40 years and younger with Bachelor's degrees or higher grew 1.6 percent, while median salaries among equivalent scientists over 40 years of age fell by 4.4 percent. The median salary for non-academic Ph.D. engineers ($58,000) and Ph.D. math/computer scientists ($52,000) continue to significantly outstrip the median for Ph.D.s of all occupations ($43,000). IMMIGRANT SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS: The proportion of non- academic foreign-born scientists and engineers increased from 9.1 to 11.0 percent between 1980 and 1990. Foreign-born engineers represent 39.2 percent of all non-academic engineering Ph.D.s in the U.S. and 29.2 percent of all math/computer science Ph.D.s. Foreign born Ph.D.s represent 44.5 percent of the non-academic math and computer science Ph.D.s in the 25-34 age range. ----- Single copies of the report are available free of charge from the Division of Science Resources Studies, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230. Requests can also be submitted by e-mail via the Internet to pubs@nsf.gov or by fax to 703-644- 4278. Be sure to specify the report title ("Nonacademic Scientists and Engineers: Trends from the 1980 and 1990 Censuses") and number (NSF 95-306) and be sure to provide your name and a complete mailing address. -------------------------- This electronic bulletin is provided as part of an on-going effort by IEEE's United States Activities Board to apprise IEEE members of important developments related to U.S. technology and career- related policy issues. Please feel free to post this message and/or forward it to other individuals who you believe would be interested. Contact: Chris J. Brantley Manager, Government Activities Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - United States Activities 1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202 Washington, DC 20036-5104 Email: c.brantley@ieee.org Phone: 202-785-0017