Benefits of Undergraduate S&E Programs Not Limited to High-Tech Economy, According to Report

Students who receive a bachelor's degree in science or engineering (S&E) frequently find themselves on non-technical career paths, but according to a recent study, most of these graduates later report that their S&E education plays an important role at work. Nearly 73 percent of people whose highest level of education is an S&E bachelor's degree do not work in traditional S&E occupations. However, almost two-thirds of that group report that their current job is related to their degree. This finding suggests that there are benefits to additional state and university investment in S&E programs beyond filling jobs that have traditionally been considered part of the high-tech economy.

 

The study, conducted by the National Science Foundation, examines the careers of people who earned an S&E bachelor's degree more than 10 years ago. NSF reports that only one-quarter of S&E grads work or pursue an additional degree in their original field of study. Though these results suggest that the pipeline between university S&E programs and the private sector needs to be strengthened to prevent the underemployment of educated workers, the study also finds that 72 percent of these graduates are using the knowledge acquired during their S&E education in the course of their daily work. Since this knowledge is being applied in jobs not typically included as part of regional technology economies, the findings indicate that state and university leaders should take a wider view of the economic benefits of strong university STEM programs.

 

The most common type of occupation held by S&E graduates, regardless of their number of degrees, is in non-S&E management. Among S&E grads, nontechnical managers outnumber technical managers by a 10-to-one margin. This is particularly true among those who have been in the workforce 25-34 years. It appears that many new graduates begin their careers directly involved in public or private R&D, but later move into new roles as nontechnical managers. Despite this gradual drift away from scientific and technical work, 71 percent of non-S&E managers with a technical background report that their jobs are related to their academic study.

 

S&E bachelors degrees also are being applied in a greater variety of graduate programs. Though the S&E bachelor's is the highest level of education attained by a small majority of S&E grads, almost half earn additional degrees. Of this group, a greater percentage has gone on to earn degrees in non-S&E fields (57 percent) than in all S&E fields. Graduates are flocking to professional programs in law, business and medicine (which is not considered an S&E field in the NSF study), and most report that they are putting their scientific and technical knowledge to use.

 

NSFs Science and Engineering Indicators for 2006 suggest, however, there is a also growing need for these graduates in science and technology jobs. Over the past 20 years, the number of S&E degrees has grown at an average annual rate of 1.5 percent. This figure is higher than the rate for the entire labor force, but significantly less than the 4.2 percent growth in S&E occupations. Despite the need for professionals with a higher ed background in science and technology in nontechnical fields, sustained economic growth will require a larger number of S&E graduates working in technical jobs.

 

For local leaders, this means expanding higher education programs in S&E to provide a steady influx of skilled researchers, as well as strengthening campus-wide requirements in S&E in light of the growing importance of these skills in the professional world.

 

The NSF InfoBrief What Do People Do After Earning a Science and Engineering Bachelor's Degree? is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf06324/