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How do states compare in employment in S&E jobs?

Individuals in S&E occupations as a percentage of the workforce, by state: 2012
Notes:
S&E = science and engineering. S&E occupations are those in biological/agricultural/environmental life sciences, physical sciences, computer sciences, mathematics/statistics, engineering, psychology, and social sciences. Physical sciences = chemistry, physics, astronomy, and earth/ocean/atmospheric sciences.

In 2012, 4.6% of the U.S. workforce (about 6 million people) worked in occupations classified as S&E, an increase from the nearly 5 million S&E workers in 2003.

Key Observations

  • At 9.7%, the District of Columbia had the highest percentage of the workforce engaged in S&E occupations in 2012.
  • Virginia (7.6%) and Maryland (7.2%), the two states adjacent to the District of Columbia, were among the 4 states with the highest percentages of S&E workers. The other two were Massachusetts (7.2%) and Colorado (6.7%).
See how states compare on a variety of science and engineering measures:
STEM Education Data and Trends 2014
The National Science Board
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Tel: (703) 292-7000
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