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Science and Engineering Workforce Has Stalled In the US

Posted by Soulskill on from the reality-tv-workforce-booming dept.

dcblogs writes "The science and engineering workforce in the U.S. has flatlined, according to the Population Reference Bureau. As a percentage of the total labor force, S&E workers accounted for 4.9% of the workforce in 2010, a slight decline from the three previous years when these workers accounted for 5% of the workforce. That percentage has been essentially flat for the past decade. In 2000, it stood at 5.3%. The reasons for this trend aren't clear, but one factor may be retirements. S&E workers who are 55 and older accounted for 13% of this workforce in 2005; they accounted for 18% in 2010. 'This might imply that there aren't enough young people entering the S&E labor force,' said one research analyst."

1 of 433 comments (clear)

  1. Americans would be stupid to study for STEM by walterbyrd · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Not just because of the H1Bs. Read about recent IBM layoffs of US workers.

    Face reality, tech companies are offshoring US jobs, and inshoring visa workers, and fast as they possibly can. There is no sign that US employers will ever let up.

    Unemployment of US STEM workers is way up, and salaries are down.

    For US workers, avoiding STEM careers should be a no brainer.