Making Science Make Sense

Bayer Facts of Science Education Survey

Bayer Facts Of Science Eduction XII

The Need - Current and Immediate Future "STEM" Workforce Challenges

Question 1

Recent reports from the National Science Foundation, the National Science Board, and others warn that the U.S. is in danger of losing its global predominance in science and technology due to a potential shortfall of American scientists and engineers, and an increase in competition for these professionals from other countries who have made their own commitments to scientific research and development. Prior to this interview were you aware of these reports or warnings?

Most (83%) executives surveyed of rapidly-growing STEM companies were aware of the reports and warnings from the National Science Foundation, the National Science Board, and others prior to taking this survey.

Significantly more CEOs than lower-level executives were aware of these reports and warnings (88% vs. 70%). Also more aware are:

Those concerned with their company’s competitive advantage over other countries (92% vs. 68% of those not concerned)
Those with a significant women/underrepresented minority STEM workforce (91% with 20%+ vs. 73% of those with < 20%)

Question 2

To what extent are you concerned that the United States is in danger of losing its global predominance in science and technology due to manpower shortage issues? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?

Nearly four in five (78%) executives surveyed are concerned that the United States is in danger of losing its global predominance in science and technology due to manpower shortage issues. One-third (33%) indicated they are very concerned about this issue.

Concern about the U.S. being in danger of losing its global predominance in science and technology is also higher among:

Those concerned with their company’s ability to attract and retain STEM employees needed to stay competitive (93% vs. 58% of those not concerned)
Those who believe colleges and universities do not have adequate STEM courses (89% vs. 70% of those who feel college STEM courses are adequate).

Question 3

How concerned are you that your company will be able to attract and retain the scientific and technically trained employees you need to remain competitive in the global marketplace? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?

Over one-half (57%) of executives surveyed are concerned that their company will be able to attract and retain the scientific and technically trained employees they need to remain competitive in the global marketplace. The highest proportion (35%) are just somewhat concerned.

Those concerned about their company’s ability to maintain their competitive advantage are also concerned about their ability to attract and retain qualified STEM employees (74% vs. 29% of those not concerned with competitive advantage).

Question 4

Until recently, women and specific minorities — African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans have held few jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, sometimes called S.T.E.M. or STEM fields. While women now hold more of these jobs, they, and these minority groups remain substantially underrepresented in such areas as engineering, physical sciences, mathematics and computer sciences.

a. Does this underrepresentation by women and these minorities exist in your company’s STEM workforce?

c. Is this underrepresentation in your company’s STEM workforce a manpower issue for you?

A near majority (45%) indicate that there is an underrepresentation of women and minorities in their STEM workforce. The remaining 55% believe it does not exist. However, just one in six (16%) of all CEOs surveyed say underrepresentation is a manpower issue.

Belief that this is a manpower issue is significantly higher among:

Those who believe their company could be doing better in ensuring women and minorities receive appropriate raises, promotions, and recognition (29% vs. 9% of those who think they company is doing an excellent job)
Those who are frustrated with their company’s ability to hire women and minorities (50% vs. 5% of those not frustrated)

At the same time, those whose company has a low women/underrepresented minority STEM workforce are more likely to believe that underrepresentation is not a manpower issue (41% with < 20% vs. 16% with 20%+).

b. Does this underrepresentation by women and these minorities exist in your industry’s STEM workforce?

Two-thirds (65%) of executives surveyed believe that underrepresentation by women and minorities exists in their industry’s STEM workforce.

Significantly more of the following believe this underrepresentation exists in their industry’s STEM workforce:

Underrepresentation exists in company (100% vs. 36% does not exist)
Company could do a better job ensuring women and minorities get appropriate raises, promotions and recognition (80% vs. 58% of those who feel their company is doing an excellent job)
Frustrated with their company’s ability to hire women and minorities (100% vs. 55% of those not frustrated)
Low women/underrepresented minority STEM workforce (80% with <20% vs. 54% with 20%+)

Question 5

How might a diverse workforce — meaning one that includes significant numbers of women and minorities — contribute to your company’s success?

One-quarter (25%) of executives surveyed believe a diverse workforce would contribute to their company’s success by enabling diversity of ideas, perspectives, skills, and solutions. Fifteen percent believe their company already has diversity within it. About the same (13%) stepped outside the frame of the question and offered that it is more important to pick the most qualified persons for the jobs instead of choosing due to race, sex, etc.

The belief that diversity already exists in their company is more prevalent among:

Those who believe their company does an excellent job in ensuring that women and minorities receive appropriate raises, promotions and recognition (20% vs. 3% of those who believe their company could be doing better)
Those with a significant women/underrepresented minority STEM workforce (23% with 20%+ vs. 5% with < 20%)

Question 6

To what extent is a diverse workforce beneficial to your company’s success? Is it very beneficial, somewhat beneficial, not too beneficial, or not at all beneficial?

Three-quarters (74%) of executives surveyed believe a diverse workforce is beneficial to their company’s success; they are equally split between very and somewhat beneficial (both 37%).

More of those executives surveyed frustrated with their company’s ability to hire women and minorities feel a diverse workforce is beneficial to their company’s success (92% vs. 69% of those not frustrated).

Question 7

Thinking about your company’s competitors in other countries, to what extent are you concerned that their access to scientific and technical talent will give them a competitive advantage over your company? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?

The majority (61%) of executives surveyed are concerned about their competitors in other countries’ access to scientific and technical talent giving them a competitive advantage.

There were several significant differences found in terms of concern with competitors in other countries having access to scientific and technical talent:

CEO vs. Non-CEO (67% vs. 44%)
Concerned vs. Not concerned with their company’s ability to attract employees necessary to stay competitive (79% vs. 37%)
Those whose company participates in pre-college education programs vs. those who do not (78% vs. 52%)
Those executives with a STEM degree vs. those without (74% vs. 43%)

Question 8

How important is it that all of your employees, non-technical as well as technical, have a baseline level of science literacy, that is a general knowledge of science, mathematics and technology in order to understand information, solve problems and make decisions? Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important?

Nearly all executives surveyed (96%) feel it is important that all of their employees have a baseline level of science literacy, with the majority (68%) saying it is very important.