minorities in engineering
TRANSCRIPT
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