minorities in engineering

Minorities in EngineeringAn Insights Report from #ImAnEngineer

Learn more at imanengineer.com

Although minorities make up a greater portion of the U.S.

population than ever before, they are still underrepresented

in engineering education.

PERCENTAGE OF BACHELOR’S

DEGREES IN ENGINEERING RECEIVED*

African-Americans

Hispanics or Latinos

Asians

Caucasians

12.3%

16.9%63%

5%

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL U.S. POPULATION*

68%

Caucasians

4.2%

African-Americans

12%

Asians

9.3%

Hispanics or Latinos

*Excludes “Temporary U.S. Residents”

For advanced degrees, the disparity continues.

Caucasian engineers earned at least four times more master’s degrees than any minority group.

Of the 3,926* doctoral degrees awarded, two-thirds (2,592) went to Caucasian engineers.

4x

66%

*Excludes “Temporary U.S. Residents”

According to a study from the National Science Foundation,

the number of African-Americans and Hispanics or Latinos

employed as engineers is also disproportionately low:

1,135,000Caucasians

219,000Asians 101,000

Hispanicsor Latinos

56,000African-

Americans

Similar gaps between

Caucasians and minorities

exist for academic positions.

Science, engineering and health

doctorate holders employed in

universities and four-year colleges

are overwhelmingly Caucasian.

OF THE 3,500 PRESIDENTS,

PROVOSTS AND CHANCELLORS:

83%

(2,905) are Caucasian

5.6%

(195) are Hispanicor Latino

5.7%

(200) are Asian

5.7%

(200) are African-American

The trend continues for deans, department

heads and chairs:

4%

(1,300) are African-

American

4%

(1,300)are Hispanic

or Latino

9.1%

(3,000)are Asian

83%

(26,900) areCaucasian

*Excludes those with “more than one race”

Minorities, however, are establishing a stronger presence

in certain fields within engineering.

Electrical, mechanical and civil engineering are the three most common

disciplines among all three minority groups:

ASIANS219,000 ENGINEERS

HISPANICS OR LATINOS101,000 ENGINEERS

AFRICAN-AMERICANS56,000 ENGINEERS

Electrical 80,000 (36.5%)

Mechanical 33,000 (15.1%)

Civil28,000 (12.8%)

Electrical 22,000 (21.8%)

Electrical 13,000 (23.2%)

Mechanical 19,000 (18.8%)

Mechanical 8,000 (14.3%)

Civil16,000 (15.8%)

Civil6,000 (10.7%)

And here are the least popular disciplines among each

minority group:

ASIANS219,000 ENGINEERS

HISPANICS OR LATINOS101,000 ENGINEERS

AFRICAN-AMERICANS56,000 ENGINEERS

Industrial 7,000 (3.2%)

Industrial 7,000 (6.9%)

Civil 10,000 (4.6%)

Aerospace 9,000 (4.1%)

Chemical 4,000 (4%)

Aerospace 7,000 (6.9%)

Chemical 3,000 (5.4%)

Industrial 3,000 (5.4%)

Aerospace 4,000 (7.1%)

1.9%

Unemployment rates are also higher for most

underrepresented minority scientists and engineers.

However, the total unemployment rate for all scientists and engineers

(3.8 percent), is well below the national average of 5.1 percent.

2.4%

(588) African-Americans

(3,393) Asians

(11,926)Caucasians

(490) Hispanicsor Latinos

2.3%

2.0%

5.1% National Unemployment Average

3.8% Unemployment Rate for Scientists and Engineers

In addition to enjoying a low

unemployment rate, engineers

are also well-compensated

compared to other professions.

Recent findings from the National

Science Foundation indicate that the

median annual salary of all U.S.

engineers is $90,000.

$150,000

$100,000$90,000

$50,000

There does exist, however,

a gap between the median

annual salary of engineers for

different minority groups:

$100,000

$70,000

$91,000Caucasians

$80,000Hispanics or Latinos

$95,000Asians

$86,000African

-Americans

As engineers progress further

into their careers, opportunities

for advancement are also

difficult to come by for those

in minority groups.

OF THE 200,000 ENGINEERING

MANAGERS:

79%

(158,000) are Caucasian

1.5%

(3,000) are African-American

12.5%

(25,000) are Asian

5.0%

(10,000)are Hispanicor Latino

*Excludes those with “more than one race”

SOURCES

National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation: Info Brief

National Science Foundation: Leadership position statistics

United States Census Bureau

For more insights on

minorities in engineering,

and how we can empower

the next generation,

visit imanengineer.com