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 2023, the share of women in engineering occupations was 15% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS). According to Elsevier, in 2022, the share of women in research and innovation in the U.S. was 42.0%. 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.
1960-2023
NSCG
According to the NSCG, men with bachelor’s degrees have historically outnumbered women significantly in engineering occupations. In the last two decades, the share of women engineers has almost tripled from 2003 (89,000) to 2023 (247,000). The percentage of women earning degrees increased from 2003 (9.7%) to 2023 (17.6%).
Among women engineers, the racial composition of graduates in engineering occupations has changed slightly in the last two decades. White women experienced a decline from 2003 (65.6%) to 2023 (62.3%) and Asian women experienced an increase from 2003 (17.5%) to (20.0%). On the other hand, the share of underrepresented minority women (Hispanic/Latina, Black or African American, and American Indian/Alaska Native) experienced a decrease of 0.2% from 2003 to 2023.
*Race as a percent of total women shown in figure
BLS
According to the BLS, Industrial Engineering (24.1%) emerged as the leading discipline in share of women engineers, followed by Chemical Engineering (20.8%) in 2023. The fields with the lowest proportion of women in engineering occupations were Aerospace Engineering (10.5%) and Mechanical Engineering (11.4%).
*Females as a percent of total in 2023 shown in figure
Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of women working in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields in the United States. While the number of men and women working in life science occupations, such as biological sciences, has reached parity, the percentage of women employed in engineering has unfortunately increased slowly in the last three decades. For example between the 1960’s and 2000’s, the share of women grew by 10% in engineering. Between the 2000’s and 2020’s, the percentage of women professionals in engineering has grown by 4%. In 2023, women represented 15% of the engineering workforce.
Corbett, C., & Hill, C. (2015). Solving the Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and Computing. Washington, DC: American Association of University Women.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
2023
BLS
According to the BLS, Industrial Engineering (24.1%) emerged as the leading discipline in the share of women engineers, followed by Chemical Engineering (20.8%) in 2023. The fields with the lowest proportion of women in engineering occupations were Aerospace Engineering (10.5%) and Mechanical Engineering (11.4%). The chart below provides more specific information on the distribution of degrees across engineering occupations, providing valuable insights into gender equality within each engineering subject.
NSCG
According to the 2023 NCSES National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG), men comprised over 80% of engineering professionals across higher education levels. In 2023, approximately 409,000 women with higher education degrees worked in engineering occupations compared to 1,855,000 men.
As of 2023, White women represented 9.1% of the engineering workforce, and Asian women represented 4.8%. On the other hand, Hispanic or Latina women represented 1.6% and Black women had the smallest share at 0.5%. Within racial groups, Black women had the lowest share of women representation at 13.2%.
U.S. Census Bureau
In 2023, the proportion of women employed engineers ranged between 8%-34%. Environmental Engineering had the highest proportion of women professionals (34%), while Agricultural and Mining and Geological Engineering (8%) had the lowest proportion of women professionals.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
Women represent 9%-21% of electrical and electronic engineering technologist and technician occupations in the United States.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
In 2023, the proportion of women employed computer scientists ranged between 8%-44%. Software quality assurance analysts and testers was the most popular occupation among women professionals (44%), while Computer Network Architecture (8%) had the lowest proportion of women professionals.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
2022
Elsevier
Elsevier provided a field-weighted citation impact (FWCI) indicator to measure the academic impact of a publication. Examining research impact by gender in the U.S. reveals women have a lower research impact in engineering than men. Although women scholars represent almost half of researchers in the U.S., their (1.20) FWCI in 2022 was less than that of their male counterparts (1.24). To view additional information on research impact, including trends over time and data broken down by type of publication, visit the Progress Toward Gender Equality In Research And Innovation Dashboard.
2021
NCES
According to the NCES, among 25- to 34-year-olds with a STEM bachelor’s degree, women are underrepresented in engineering and computer science careers compared to men of the same racial/ethnic origin. Black and Asian women are the most underrepresented in engineering careers, whereas Hispanic and White women are most underrepresented in computer science and mathematics employment.
SWE Efforts to Increase Representation of Women of Color in the Engineering and Computer Science Workforce
- SWE Public Policy
- SWE Legislative Action Center and Congressional Outreach
- SWE Research on Women of Color in Early Career
- The Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative: A collaborative effort to advance women of Color in the engineering workforce.
Resources
- Corbett, C., & Hill, C. (2015). Solving the Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and Computing. Washington, DC: American Association of University Women.
- Elsevier. (2024). Progress Toward Gender Equality In Research And Innovation.
- National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. (2023). National Survey of College Graduates.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Current Population Survey: Household Data.
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Tables B24115 and B24116.
- U.S. Department of Education NCES. (2022). Digest of Education Statistics, Table 505.30.