Most Americans think U.S. K-12 STEM education isn’t above average, but test results paint a mixed picture
Just 28% of U.S. adults say America is the best in the world or above average in K-12 STEM education compared with other wealthy nations.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Just 28% of U.S. adults say America is the best in the world or above average in K-12 STEM education compared with other wealthy nations.
In 2022, 19% of American workers were in jobs that are the most exposed to artificial intelligence, in which the most important activities may be either replaced or assisted by AI. Women, Asian, college-educated and higher-paid workers have more exposure to AI, but workers in the most exposed industries are more likely to say AI will help more than hurt them personally.
The share of Americans who say climate scientists understand very well whether climate change is occurring decreased from 37% in 2021 to 32% this year.
Overall, there are about 42.5 million Americans with disabilities, making up 13% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
More Black Americans say health outcomes for Black people in the United States have improved over the past 20 years than say outcomes have worsened.
The share of Americans who say science has had a mostly positive impact on society has fallen 16 percentage points since before the start of the coronavirus outbreak, from 73% in January 2019 to 57% today.
Many Americans are aware of common ways they might encounter AI in daily life, though fewer are able to correctly identify each of the six common uses of AI in the survey. More broadly, the public remains more concerned than excited about the increasing use of AI in daily life.
The higher education pipeline suggests a long path is ahead for increasing diversity, especially in fields like computing and engineering.
About nine-in-ten (88%) Americans say, overall, the benefits of childhood vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella outweigh the risks, identical to the share who said this before the coronavirus outbreak. U.S. adults are less confident in COVID-19 vaccines: Fewer than half rate them as having high health benefits and a low risk of side effects.
Large majorities value government investments in science and consider it important for the United States to be a world leader in scientific achievement, but few think the country is gaining ground globally.
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