Data Sources on the STEM Workforce Dixie Sommers Assistant Commissioner August 1, 2011

Overview Using the Standard Occupational Classification to identify STEM Data on employment and wages  Occupational Employment Statistics  Employment Projections Data on demographic and other characteristics  American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau 2

Standard Occupational Classification Workers and jobs are classified into occupations based on the work performed SOC issued by Office of Management and Budget  Revised 2000 and 2010  All Federal agencies publishing occupational data for statistical purposes must use SOC SOC structure  23 Major Occupation Grou ps  Over 800 detailed occupations

Standard Occupational Classification 4 Major group Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations Minor group Life Scientists Broad occupation Agricultural and Food Scientists Detailed occupations Animal Scientists Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals Food Scientists and Technologists Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

Standard Occupational Classification What occupations belong in STEM?  BLS made a list  There are other lists Some questions:  Should STEM include – Social science occupations? – Health occupations? – Teaching occupations?  What are the criteria for deciding?

Occupational Employment Statistics Employment and wages for over 800 occupations  Occupational estimates for – The Nation – States, District of Columbia, and selected territories – Over 580 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas  National estimates by specific industries – Number of jobs and wages for occupations within each industry  Estimates by ownership: – Private; Federal, State, and Local Government Published annually with May reference date

Occupational Employment Statistics Non-farm wage and salary employment  Self-employed an unpaid family workers excluded  Agriculture industries not included – Except some agricultural services industries  Count of jobs, not people Survey of large sample of businesses  Universe of about 8 million establishments  1.2 million establishments sampled for OES

Employment Projections What we project  Labor force  Aggregate economy  Industry production and employment  Occupational demand Key features  National projections  Long term: 10 year horizon  New projections every other year – Currently for , next for

Employment Projections Key features  National projections  Long term: 10 year horizon  New projections every other year – Currently for , next  Detailed – 311 industries – 754 occupations Career information  Occupational Outlook Handbook  Occupational Outlook Quarterly 9

American Community Survey U.S. Census Bureau  Replaces the “long form” on the decennial Census  Larger sample than the Current Population Survey Continuous data collection from sampled households New data every year  1-year data, 3-year data, 5-year period estimates  Greater detail with more years Demographic, social, economic, housing and financial characteristics 10

American Community Survey Key ACS data on workers in STEM occupations  Educational attainment  Gender and race/ethnicity  Marital status  Nativity and citizenship  Employment by class of worker (self-employed, wage and salary, etc.)  Earnings and income  And more… 11

Getting the Data Occupational Employment Statistics  Employment Projections  Data –  Occupational Outlook Handbook –  Occupational Outlook Quarterly – American Community Survey 

Contact Information Dixie Sommers Assistant Commissioner Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, D.C