Science And Engineering Jobs – Not Just For Those With Four-Year Degrees

The science and engineering (S&E) workforce of the United States depends heavily on graduates with at least a four-year college education. However, individuals employed in S&E occupations with less than a bachelor’s degree account for more than one-fifth of those employed in S&E occupations.

These S&E workers, more than 1 million people, hold high school diplomas (5 percent of the S&E workforce) or associate’s degrees (17 percent). These data, from the April 2003 “Current Population Survey,” are available in a new report issued by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Division of Science Resources Statistics.

The proportions of individuals with less than bachelor’s degrees vary by occupational groups. High school diploma and associate’s degree holders comprise approximately 40 percent of those employed in computer and math science and 20 percent of those employed in engineering. The proportions are much smaller (10 percent or less) for occupations in the life, physical and social sciences.

Demographic characteristics provide yet another view of the S&E workforce with high school diplomas or associate’s degrees. Men and women are represented in about the same proportions – slightly more than one-fifth each of the men and women employed in S&E have less than a bachelor’s degree.

However, proportions of racial or ethnic groups with less than a bachelor’s degree range from 6 percent for Asian-Pacific Islanders to 34 percent for blacks and 37 percent for Hispanics.