New Data Show Strong Labor Market For Scientists And Engineers

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Science Daily

ScienceDaily (Apr. 8, 2008) — Science and engineering workforce availability in the United States is under serious scrutiny by observers who worry about a decline in the nation's ability to fill future demand. However, three newly published National Science Foundation (NSF) reports show increasing supplies of scientists and engineers, as well as a strong labor market.


New National Science Foundation data shows the current scientist and engineering labor force is expanding, there are more new graduates, and people are able to find employment, or are continuing their education. (Credit: Center for BioModular Multi-Scale Systems, Louisiana State University)

According to NSF data, the number of individuals working in science and engineering (S&E) occupations grew by 4.3 percent, and their unemployment rate dropped to 2.5 percent in 2006, the lowest unemployment rate since the early 1990s.

Every two years NSF surveys and collects data on scientists and engineers, defined as people with a bachelor's degree or higher with science, engineering or related degrees or occupations.

NSF collects data on these individuals with three separate national surveys: the National Survey of College Graduates, the National Survey of Recent College Graduates, and the Survey of Doctorate Recipients. Collectively, these surveys are known as the Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System, or SESTAT.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080403131954.htm

[Barack_America]

1. Yep. There are more positions in these fields than American students and workers...

to fill them.

We've got to start focusing on better math and science education in this country.

[LongTomH]

2. With our current economic models................

..........the data in this article may turn out to be more of a call for increased H1B and L1 visas. I'm afraid that's a more likely response than an increased focus on math and science education.

[Barack_America]

3. That's really unfortunate, because it honestly does not take much...

education or training to prepare someone for many of these jobs at the "tech" level. It's honestly on the job training, particularly for biotech.

Honestly, I'd like to see companies consider more people for these positions with 2-year degrees (and of course provide tuition credits for them to further their education). It's really unnecessary to increase H1B, L1 and TN visas to fill these positions.

[shireen]

4. we need to push for more community college and tech school scholarships

There are tech schools all over the country, I see ads everywhere. When the Dem. administration comes in, they have to increase scholarships for these 2-yr schools. It will be a fantastic investment in our young people. Everyone talks about more college scholarships, and I support that too. But not everyone wants or needs a college degree, and those people should have access to the right training that will generate a good income, one that's just as good as college graduates. The more home-grown skilled workers we generate, the fewer H1Bs are needed because the pressure to hire inside the country will be tremendous. And when we get more US workers, we'll see unions becoming a stronger influence.

BTW, I'm a furriner ... used to be on an H1 visa, so please don't condemn us all. :)
I'm now a US citizen, since 2002. Wish I had done it before Bush became president; i had to watch Idiot-in-Chief's "welcome" video for newly-naturalized citizens during the swearing-in ceremony. It was nauseating! It really spoiled what was an amazing and proud moment in my life, and i wished so much that it had been Clinton or Gore delivering that welcome address. This was in August 2002, and even that early into his presidency, my Bush bullshit detector was already off the scale! :(

[Barack_America]

5. Not at all...

My boyfriend is actually in the US on a TN visa, courtesy of the dreaded NAFTA. So I understand how the personal/political conflict works on this issue. I'm still for further NAFTA reductions though! ;)

[bluerum]

12. Why should they when they can get someone with a masters or phd for the same money?

[seasat]

6. I'd love to know where these jobs are.

They are certainly not in most Earth Science jobs. In my field, oceanography, grants are becoming more scarce, more professors are taking early retirement, and techs are being laid off. The federal funding for my field is a fraction of what it used to be.

[shireen]

9. hey, seasat, check out SESTAT

Sorry! I could not resist ... your username and the database, SESTAT ( Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System) sound so similar. :P

Anyhow, to answer your question, there's a breakdown in Table 2 at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08305/
The numbers contradict your comments about Earth Sciences because the figures claim that Earth Scientist/geologist/oceanographer category went from 2.6% unemployment in 2003 to 1.1% in 2006. Most jobs, however, are in industry. So I'm inclined to believe your anecdotal observations because it makes sense ... there has been a general decline in funding for basic science so academia is feeling the pinch. Government funding for basic science and engineering is the foundation of scientific and technological advancements that benefits the business sector and consumers. This horrible war is indirectly hurting basic science in a big way.

There's a more detailed account of how the data was collected and analyzed at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/sestat/technicalinfo.cfm . I'm too sleep to read it.

One thing I find odd -- don't know whether to laugh or cry -- is the percentage of women in science and engineering: 45%. Not where I work! Not in my field (astronomy)! I find it hard, really hard, to believe that number.

Such strange results in that survey ....

[sergeiAK]

10. On the topic of women in Science/Engineering

When your college keeps a semi-joking statistic called the "girl-to-dave" ratio, you can complain. When ours finally went above 1, there was a celebration :P

[seasat]

14. Petroleum geologists are in huge demand.

That probably accounts for much of the low unemployment in that category.

My specialty, optical oceanography, has been devastated by cuts. NASA and Office of Naval Research used to be our primary funding agencies. However, Bushie's Mission to Mars and Iraq war gutted both of those sources. At the last ASLO conference, all the oceanographers were singing the blues about funding cuts. Bushie's cuts pretty much eliminated outside funding from NOAA and the EPA. Most of us are now forced to compete for a dwindling pot of NSF money. The only increased funding has been for weapon systems or home land security. The layoffs started back in 2007. Most of the programs at other universities that I work with are in trouble and cutting back pretty drastically.

[sofa king]

7. Riiiight.

Of course, it's a specific kind of shortage: a shortage of wet-behind-the-ears graduates which can be used to replace more experienced and better paid engineers and scientists, as big business has happily done to engineers and scientists since the 1970s.

Funny how word about those sorts of practices travels.

[OhioChick]

8. Where the hell are they located? n/t

[sergeiAK]

11. Most in my field are in VA, NC, FL, and CA

I'm a Computer Engineer.

[bemildred]

13. Tough, I'm still retired.

I will never voluntarily go back into the cube farm.