Distribution of the 1970 science and engineering 

 labor force by field, 1974 



Field Percent 



Engineers 64 



Physical scientists 14 



Life scientists 7 



Computer scientists 5 



Social scientists 4 



Psychologists 3 



Mathematical scientists 3 



The following are some additional 

 characteristics of the 1970 science and engineer- 

 ing labor force, surveyed in 1974:-' 



— Approximately 35 percent of the 

 employed scientists and engineers are 

 engaged in work supported with Federal 

 funds. 



— Industry and business are the employers 

 of most scientists and engineers, 65 

 percent of the total in 1974. 



— Scientists and engineers holding doc- 

 toral degrees account for some 15 

 percent of the scientific and engineering 

 population, master's and professional 

 degree holders almost 25 percent, and 

 baccalaureates nearly 60 percent. 



— Management or administration was the 

 most common work activity in which 

 scientists and engineers were engaged in 

 1974; this activity was reported by about 

 30 percent of the sample, with about 

 one-third (10 percent of the total 

 employed group) involved in the 

 management or administration of R&D. 



— Research and development was the 

 primary work activity of almost 30 

 percent of the employed scientific and 

 engineering population, with almost 10 

 percent involved in research (applied 

 and basic). 



Doctoral scientists and engineers 



Those scientists and engineers holding doc- 

 toral degrees represent, as a group, the most 

 highly trained men and women in their 



professions. The investment of resources in 

 their education and training is significant in both 

 monetary terms and in the amount of time 

 involved. The characteristics and activities of 

 this group warrant careful monitoring, since 

 doctoral level scientists and engineers provide 

 leadership for the entire scientific community. 



It is estimated that in 1973 there were 245,000 

 doctoral scientists and engineers in the United 

 States. ^ This number is over twice that reported 

 in 1963, and represents about 14 percent of all 

 scientists and engineers. Approximately 9 

 percent of the 245,000 doctoral scientists and 

 engineers were women and 6 percent were 

 foreign citizens. Scientists and engineers of 

 oriental background made up 5 percent of the 

 doctorate science and engineering population; 

 Blacks, 1 percent; and other groups, 94 percent. ^ 



The physical and life sciences were the two 

 largest fields represented in the 1973 population 

 of doctoral scientists and engineers, as shown 

 below." 



Distribution of doctoral scientists 

 and engineers, by field, 1973 



Field Percent 



Life scientists 26 



Physical scientists 26 



Engineers 15 



Social scientists 13 



Psychologists 12 



Mathematical scientists 6 



Computer scientists 1 



Among doctoral scientists, the proportion 

 accounted for by physical scientists declined over 

 the 1966-73 period while the life scientists' share 

 increased. Other fields remained relatively 

 constant over the period in terms of their 

 relative proportions (figure 5-1). 



Sectors of doctoral employment. The pattern 

 of employment of doctoral scientists and 

 engineers in 1973 is shown in figure 5-2. 

 Doctoral scientists are predominantly employed 

 by educational institutions (64 percent); within 



^ "National Sample of Scientists and Engineers: Changes 

 in Employment 1970-72 and 1972-74", Science Resources Studies 

 Highlights. National Science Foundation (NSF 75-309), May 

 19, 1975. 



■' Doctoral Scientists and Engineers in the United Stales, 1973 Profile, 

 National Academy of Sciences, 1974. 



-■' For further information on this topic, see the subsequent 

 section in this chapter entitled "Women and Minorities m 

 Science and Engineering." 



^ Characteristics of Doctoral Scientists and Engineers in the United 

 States, 1973. National Science Foundation (NSF 75-312). 



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