Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Women and Men in STEM Often at Odds Over Workplace Equity
Among STEM workers, blacks are especially likely to say they have experienced race-based discrimination in the workplace
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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