www.le.ac.uk

Is there a shortage of scientists?

Examining inequalities in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and careers

Emma Smith and Patrick White

‘Not for the first time our educational conscience has been stung by the thought that we are as a nation neglecting science’

Committee to Enquire into the Position of Natural Science in the Educational System of Great Britain, 1918.

‘Grave shortage of science teachers’

The Times, October 1955

‘University science places unfilled’

The Times, January 1970

‘This is Britain’s path to the future, lit by the brilliant light of science’ Tony Blair, 2006

‘… to make Britain the best country in the world in which to be a scientist’ Gordon Brown, 2009

‘…while not everyone is in the business of science, science is everybody’s business’ Gordon Brown, 2009

‘…scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers… we are going to show young people how cool science can be’ Barack Obama, 2009

‘Another issue with which we had to grapple was the lack of reliable data on the supply and demand of STEM graduates and postgraduates. This lack of data makes it very difficult to assess whether there is in fact a shortage of STEM graduates and postgraduates and in which sectors. This is critical because, if it is not known whether there is a shortage, remedial actions cannot be put in place’.

House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology (2012:6)

Achievement gaps between male and female A-level physics candidates 1965-2009

1965

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30Chart Title

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

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Physical sciences Biological sciences Engineering sciences All sciences

Acceptances to selected main science subject groups, as a proportion of all acceptances, 1986-2012

First destinations of Engineering Sciences graduates, 1994-2010/11

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20100

20

40

60

80

100

In full-time employment Further study Unemployed

Proportion of first degree leavers who were unemployed 6 months after graduation, selected subjects 1994/5 to 2010/11

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20100

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Languages Engineering Computer science

Percentage of students entering ‘graduate’ type jobs, selected subject areas, 2002-2010

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20100

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Physical Sciences Languages Engineering Sciences

Biological Sciences Social Studies

Main occupational groups, 2010/11

  ‘Graduate’ jobs

SOC 6-9 Unemployed

All graduates 62 27 9

Biology 48 39 11

Sports Science 50 42  7

Psychology 42 45  8

Chemistry 68 22  8

Physics 74 16 11

Engineering 87 15 13

Computing sciences 72 19 15

Languages 51 33 9

Long term trajectories

1970 Birth Cohort Study

1958 National Child Development Study

Labour Force Survey

Conclusions 1• No evidence of gender gaps in attainment at A-level pure sciences

• Participation in HE undergraduate science programmes has kept pace with overall HE expansion

• But recruitment is not even across the sciences

• Social characteristics in particular have hardly varied

• Physical scientists are still largely white, middle class, high attaining, home-domiciled, traditional aged men.

Conclusions 2

• Initiatives to encourage greater uptake of the physical sciences have limited impact, at aggregate level

• Early career trajectories of engineering science students are relatively unchanged

• Further work is needed to examine the barriers and opportunities for entry into graduate STEM employment