Less than a third of federal STEM employees are women

[mahatmakanejeeves]

WORKFORCE

Less than a third of federal STEM employees are women

Drew Friedman | @dfriedmanWFED
July 15, 2022 3:37 pm
5 min read

Among efforts to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the federal workforce, women still fall significantly behind in representation for agencies’ science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) roles.

Women comprised just 29.3% of federal STEM workers, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported on July 13. The statistic was based on data from fiscal 2019, the most recent information available.

The number was just ahead of STEM workers nationwide. Data from the Census Bureau showed that women made up about 27% of the overall STEM workforce in the U.S.

Many groups have conducted research on women in STEM for the private sector, but for federal agencies, the reporting is much more limited, EEOC said. In an effort to add more to the conversation specifically for STEM in the federal government, EEOC’s report offered analysis based not only on gender, but also race, age, rates of discrimination and more.

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[DURHAM D]

1. Oh no...I am shocked I tell you...SHOCKED. not

[MichMan]

2. What is the percentage by sex of those with STEM degrees ?

Probably not that high. When I attended Engineering college 30 yrs ago, the ratio was at least 10:1.

Having three rescue dogs, I interact frequently with Veterinary professionals. I would say 90% are female. When I was in college it was close to 50/50.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. From the article:

Women comprised just 29.3% of federal STEM workers, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported on July 13. The statistic was based on data from fiscal 2019, the most recent information available.

The number was just ahead of STEM workers nationwide. Data from the Census Bureau showed that women made up about 27% of the overall STEM workforce in the U.S.

So women in the STEM fields are overrepresented as federal workers compared to the general population by about ten percent.

What's probably available if I dig far enough is representation in terms of paygrade. Are federal STEM workers who are women paid, on average, more than their civilian counterparts? How many female STEM workers are GS-13? GS-14? GS-15?

You added:

Having three rescue dogs, I interact frequently with Veterinary professionals. I would say 90% are female. When I was in college it was close to 50/50.

How does that skew small animal v. large animal?

Thanks for writing.

[captain queeg]

4. Yeah as an engineer in the private sector I saw very few women.

Even in a state agency. At the federal level I’d estimate about 30-40% Were women, including many managers. Much more opportunity for women at the federal level.

Back in my college days it seemed like a lot more women went into civil engineering which tracks with federal employment.