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U.S. Employment

According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics’ (NCSES) National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG), there has been an increase in the share of women working in engineering fields in the United States in the past 20 years. As of 2024, the share of women in engineering occupations was 15.4% (U.S. Census Bureau). According to Elsevier, in 2025, the share of women in research and innovation in the U.S. was 43.9%. Although women engineering scholars represent almost one-half of researchers in the U.S., their research impact is less than that of their male counterparts. The dashboard below shows U.S. employment by gender.

Tags: Women of Color

Retention in the Engineering Workforce

Over the years, there has been an increase in the share of women working in engineering fields in the United States. Retaining talented women in engineering is an urgent matter to ensure a diverse workforce. According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), women continue to be underrepresented across the engineering workforce.

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace

National Academy of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) was established in 1964 to promote the engineering profession and marshal the expertise and insight of eminent engineers to provide independent advice to the federal government. It is a prestigious honor to be elected to this Academy. As of 2025, the NAE had 435 women members out of over 2,700 members since 1965. Computer Science & Engineering is the discipline with the most female members, followed by Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering.

Tags: Leadership

U.S. Fortune 500 Women CEO’s

Though the Fortune 500 companies include numerous corporations outside of engineering, it is important to be aware of the lack of diversity among the highest levels of leadership across all industries, especially women leaders. Diverse leaders are needed to serve as role models, mentors, and supporters of future leaders. The consistent scarcity of female representation among corporate leadership is a concerning trend.

Tags: Leadership

U.S. Job Outlook

The job outlook for engineers continues to show a high demand for talent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), occupational predictions and worker characteristics in the engineering and computer occupations sector are expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years. To meet the demand for new engineers, engineering technologists, and computer scientists, our nation must promote these professions among underrepresented groups, including women and individuals from other minority racial and ethnic backgrounds. The tables below provide additional information regarding the job outlook of several engineering, engineering technologists and computer occupations. They illustrate growth projections and median annual wages in these occupations. These insights can equip women with the knowledge to navigate the future job market.

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace

U.S. Earnings Gap

In all engineering and computer occupations, women’s median earnings are less than men’s in the same occupation. The tables below provide additional information regarding the gender earnings gap of several engineering, engineering technologists, and computer occupations. These insights can equip women with the knowledge to navigate the future job market.

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace, Women of Color

U.S. Engineering Deans

Historically, there are much fewer women deans in engineering than men. As of 2025, there were 75 female engineering deans or directors across the country, representing roughly 21% of the total leaders of engineering colleges in the U.S.

Tags: Leadership

Exploring Women in Engineering Leadership: A Case Study

In 2023, SWE conducted a research study on behalf of Process Industry Practices (PIP) focused on women in engineering leadership to understand why the organization had a relatively high representation of women in leadership.

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace

Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative

The Society of Women Engineers, in collaboration with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) received a grant from the National Science Foundation to support the creation of the Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative (WCEC).

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace, Women of Color

Advocates for Empowerment (A4E)

Advocates for Empowerment (A4E) is a gender parity and equality benchmarking program offered annually by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). A4E provides organizations with actionable information and assistance to recruit and retain diverse women in engineering and technology positions as well as advance them into top management.

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace, Women of Color

COVID-19 Research

In June 2020, SWE surveyed its members to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting their college and career plans. Most survey respondents were U.S.-based. In October 2020, a second survey was sent to SWE members in India to determine how the pandemic was affecting women engineers and engineering students in that country. Read about…

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace, COVID-19, General Higher Education

SWE 1993 Study of Engineers

In 1993, SWE released a report on a survey of a random sample of more than half a million American engineers who were members of one or more of 22 major professional or technical societies. This national survey of women and men engineers was groundbreaking in it scope and its focus on gender differences in…

Tags: Women Engineers in the Workplace