SESTAT: Getting the Scoop on U.S. Scientists and Engineers

The science and engineering community makes an enormous contribution to the U.S. economy and the country's productivity and competitiveness in the global market. For more than 20 years, Mathematica has helped the National Science Foundation (NSF) track the employment, educational, and demographic characteristics of scientists and engineers in the U.S. labor force. SESTAT—the Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System—integrates data collected through three national sample surveys conducted every two or three years—the National Survey of College Graduates, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, and the National Survey of Recent College Graduates—to provide a picture of this group. The database can be used to describe the educational background of engineers or social scientists, show what occupations people with physics degrees hold, or answer questions about how age or gender relate to salary in different fields. 

Mathematica helped develop and is currently maintaining SESTAT. In addition to integrating new data into SESTAT as it becomes available, Mathematica provides statistical, methodological, publication, and data processing support to NSF.

SESTAT is available on CD-ROM, the internet, and in published tables and reports. Additional information on SESTAT is contained in SESTAT: A Tool for Studying Scientists and Engineers in the United States.

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