Making Science Make Sense

Bayer Facts Of Science Eduction Survey XIII

Fortune 1000 STEM Executives on STEM Education, STEM Diversity and U.S. Competitiveness

The Need: Current and Imminent STEM Workforce Challenges

U.S. Competitiveness and the Country’s STEM Workforce

Fortune 1000 STEM executives are concerned that a shortage of America’s STEM talent threatens the competitiveness of the country and that of individual businesses.

Almost all of the executives surveyed (95%) are concerned that the United States is in danger of losing its global leadership position in science and technology because of a shortage of STEM manpower.
More than half (55%) say their companies are already experiencing such a shortage.
Two-thirds (68%) are concerned that other countries’ increasing access to STEM talent is giving their global competitors a competitive advantage over them. One-fifth (20%) are very concerned.

Should the U.S. Presidential Candidates be Concerned about the State of the STEM Workforce?

The state of the country’s STEM workforce vis-à-vis its continued competitiveness should be a major issue for the U.S. presidential candidates, according to the Fortune 1000 STEM executives.

Nearly all executives (98%) believe the U.S. presidential candidates should be concerned with the country’s ability to attract and retain STEM talent in order to maintain its global leadership in science and technology.
Two-in-three (68%) say they should be very concerned.

Diversity and Underrepresentation in the STEM Workforce

Fortune 1000 STEM executives are fully aware of the problem of the underrepresentation of women, African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanic Americans in STEM fields and many recognize it for the manpower problem it is. This awareness is in marked contrast to that of the emerging STEM company CEOs polled in 2006.

Almost nine-in-ten Fortune 1000 STEM executives (89%) say underrepresentation exists in their industry, with a similar number (82%) reporting it exists in their own companies. Of those who acknowledge it is a reality for them, 83% say the lack of women, African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanic Americans is a manpower concern for their companies.
Only six-in-ten (65%) emerging STEM company CEOs said underrepresentation exists in their industry. Four-in-ten (45%) reported underrepresentation in their companies, and, of those, only three-in-ten (36%) said this underrepresentation is a manpower concern for them.

Most Fortune 1000 STEM executives advocate diversifying the STEM talent pool to help solve the country’s STEM workforce issues.

Roughly nine-in-ten (89%) agree that bringing more women and minorities into STEM fields will help solve U.S. manpower shortages.
Fortune 1000 STEM executives see significant company benefits in a diverse workforce, namely increased innovation and the ability to better compete globally.

How Does Diversity Contribute To A Fortune 1000 STEM Company's Success ?*
Allows/increases different ideas/perspectives/skills	41%
Improves ability to compete in global market	39%
Allows for greater creativity/more innovation/new ideas	26%
Results in better solutions/decision making due to a wider pool of ideas	14%
Broadens/expands resource pool	12%
Enables company to attract a diverse workforce/shows company is open to minorities and women	11%
Fosters healthy work atomsphere/workplace reflects American demographics	10%
Results in better/different products	8%
Other	8%

*NOTE: Executives could offer more than one response.

Science Literacy: Important for All STEM Company Employees?

Science literacy is a basic requirement for all employees according to the Fortune 1000 STEM executives.

Nearly all executives surveyed (93%) consider it important that all of their employees have a baseline level of science literacy, with more than half (54%) considering it very important.

Back to Summary table of contents