Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Women and Men in STEM Often at Odds Over Workplace Equity
The share of women in life and physical sciences has gone up but it has gone down for computer jobs since 1990
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- Women and Men in STEM Often at Odds Over Workplace Equity
- 52% of STEM-trained college graduates are employed in the STEM workforce
- Women with college degrees in computers and engineering are less likely than men to be working in those jobs
- Most women in STEM jobs in majority-male workplaces, in computer jobs or with postgraduate degrees say they have experienced discrimination at work
- Representation of women in STEM jobs varies widely
- Majority of blacks in STEM jobs have experienced discrimination at work
- Half of women in STEM jobs say they have been discriminated against at work
- Women in STEM working in majority-male workplaces perceive more gender inequities
- Among those in computer jobs, women are much more likely than men to experience discrimination at work
- More women than men say they have experienced sexual harassment at work
- Most blacks in STEM have experienced discrimination; fewer blacks see fair treatment in hiring, promotions
- The share of women in life and physical sciences has gone up but it has gone down for computer jobs since 1990
- Fewer women than men who majored in computers work in computer jobs
- Most Americans see STEM jobs as offering higher pay, attracting top talent compared with other industries
- Men and women in STEM consider job flexibility important, women are more likely to want a job that helps others
- Perceived reasons more women, blacks and Hispanics are not working in STEM
- Most Americans see K-12 STEM education as average or below that of other developed nations
- Over 17 million workers are employed in STEM occupations
- Employment in computer jobs has more than quadrupled since 1990
- About three-in-ten STEM workers have a postgraduate degree
- Like other workers, two-thirds of STEM workers are in a for-profit business
- Women’s representation in computer jobs has declined since 1990
- Women’s representation in STEM jobs varies by education
- Biggest gains for women in STEM jobs among those with advanced degrees
- Blacks and Hispanics underrepresented across most STEM job clusters
- The typical STEM worker now earns two-thirds more than non-STEM workers
- STEM workers tend to earn more than similarly educated non-STEM workers
- The gender earnings gap varies across STEM occupations and education
- Racial earnings gaps narrower in the STEM workforce than non-STEM workforce
- Roughly three-in-four college-educated STEM workers have a STEM degree
- Black and Hispanic college-educated workers with a STEM degree earn less than whites; Asians earn more
- STEM college majors tend to earn more than non-STEM college majors
- Most Americans believe STEM employment offers better pay than other industries
- Men and women in STEM tend to look for similar job qualities, but more women value jobs that help others
- Women and men in STEM jobs see the behaviors that help them get ahead somewhat differently
- About half of blacks in STEM say talking about their personal lives hurts their chances for getting ahead
- How much do workers feel their contributions are valued at work, or feel the need to prove themselves in order to be respected at work?
- Women in STEM jobs in majority-male workplaces see the behaviors needed to get ahead differently
- Women in STEM in majority-male workplaces feel the need to prove themselves more often to earn respect
- Women in STEM with advanced degrees are especially likely to say that having a mentor, being vocal about one’s accomplishments fosters success at work
- Most Americans say gender diversity at work is important
- Women are more likely than men to see workplace gender diversity as important
- Most workers are content with amount of attention to gender diversity
- Women more likely to see discrimination in recruitment, hiring and promotions as a major reason behind lack of gender diversity in STEM
- Women working in STEM are more likely to have experienced gender-related discrimination at work
- More women than men in STEM jobs see sexual harassment as a problem in their workplace
- About a fifth of working women have experienced sexual harassment at work
- Gender differences over perceived treatment of women in promotion opportunities at work
- Most workers believe their gender has made little difference in success on the job
- Concerns about how gender influences success in STEM jobs include pay gaps, standards for evaluation
- Women in computer jobs are much more likely than men to report experiences with discrimination at work