Over the past twenty years the number of students graduating from U.S. university programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has remained essentially unchanged – we are not building our domestic student and workforce pipeline. As indicated in Chart 1, the number of bachelors degrees awarded annually in all Natural Science and Engineering disciplines, to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, increased only 14% during the period 1985 -2005 [1]. This relatively flat increase occurred during a period of dramatic technological innovation - from 1990-2000 science and engineering occupations grew at more than triple the rate of all other occupations.[2]

While the number of degrees earned in Natural Science and Engineering has shown limited growth, the change in each category varies more significantly. As Chart 2, indicates, the number of Natural Science degrees awarded increased 29% while Engineering degrees awarded declined 14% in this same time-period (1985-2005).

Chart 2 

 

This data is further detailed in the Charts 3 & 4 which show that engineering disciplines exhibit flat to negative growth with the exception of Electrical Engineering which increased 25% (2005 over 1985). Conversely, the award of Biological Science degrees increased sharply in the early 1990’s and held steady into 2005, while Mathematics and Computer Science degrees declined in the early 90’s, then rebounded significantly from 2000-2005. Earth, Physical and Agricultural science remained flat. 

Chart 3 

Chart 4


While the number of bachelors degrees that increased (2005 over 1985) in specific disciplines - Electrical Engineering degrees (+4K), Biological Science degrees (+28K) and Computer Science (+9K) - are encouraging, those increases must be considered in terms of projected retirements and growth rates of the relevant industries (Information Technology and Services, Healthcare and Life Sciences. The retirement impact  of "Baby Boomers" on the Natural Science and Engineering workforce is depicted in the following charts. Chart 5 indicates the number of workers with a bachelor, master or doctoral degree by age bracket and by degree discipline.

Note 1: The date samples for Charts 5-8 are based on 2003 data.  When referencing this data in 2008, each data point “ages” by a five-year bracket.  Effectively, the workforce is 5 years older in 2005 than it was in 2008.

Chart 5