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Table 1-1. U.S. residing doctoral scientists and engineers, by field of doctorate and employment status: 2015

Field Total Employed Unemployeda Retired Not employed or not seeking workb
Total Full time Part time
Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE
All fields 920,050 1,625 787,250 1,900 700,700 1,875 86,550 1,375 14,300 600 101,200 1,375 17,300 600
Science 704,950 1,625 597,050 1,975 524,650 1,925 72,400 1,250 11,200 500 82,800 1,325 13,900 500
Biological/agricultural/environmental life sciences 228,650 950 195,050 1,075 178,550 1,150 16,500 600 4,200 300 24,050 750 5,300 300
Agricultural/food sciences 23,050 475 18,050 400 16,450 400 1,600 150 400 100 4,050 325 500 125
Biochemistry/biophysics 33,100 325 28,050 425 25,400 425 2,650 250 750 150 3,600 325 700 150
Cell/molecular biology 25,600 275 23,300 350 21,750 400 1,600 225 500 150 1,000 200 750 150
Environmental life sciences 10,000 300 8,400 225 7,500 200 950 150 150 50 1,300 200 150 50
Microbiology 15,500 375 12,950 350 11,850 350 1,050 175 250 75 1,900 275 350 100
Zoology 10,700 225 7,750 250 6,700 250 1,050 150 250 75 2,550 200 150 75
Other biological sciences 110,750 475 96,550 625 88,950 700 7,600 425 1,900 225 9,600 425 2,700 225
Computer/information sciences 26,350 275 24,600 325 23,500 350 1,100 175 500 125 850 125 400 100
Mathematics/statistics 43,400 425 35,950 550 32,800 550 3,150 300 600 150 6,050 300 750 150
Physical sciences 157,100 800 131,550 950 119,050 975 12,500 550 2,750 250 20,300 600 2,450 225
Astronomy/astrophysics 6,000 150 5,350 150 4,900 150 500 100 D D 500 100 100 50
Chemistry, except biochemistry 79,450 500 65,700 600 59,550 650 6,150 400 1,600 200 10,800 450 1,400 175
Earth/atmospheric/ocean sciencesc 24,450 250 21,050 250 18,950 275 2,100 175 300 50 2,700 175 350 100
Physics 47,200 525 39,450 550 35,700 600 3,750 325 800 150 6,300 350 600 125
Psychology 134,250 525 114,200 750 87,000 875 27,200 775 1,500 200 15,600 550 3,000 250
Social sciences 115,150 850 95,650 950 83,700 925 11,900 500 1,650 175 15,900 500 1,950 200
Economics 31,000 450 25,900 500 23,300 450 2,600 225 300 100 4,350 275 450 100
Political sciences 25,450 475 21,750 450 19,200 450 2,550 325 150 50 3,250 300 300 100
Sociology 18,750 300 14,950 300 12,900 300 2,000 200 300 100 3,200 250 350 100
Other social sciences 39,950 400 33,100 500 28,300 475 4,750 300 850 125 5,150 300 900 125
Engineering 171,250 925 151,900 925 142,350 950 9,550 450 2,500 300 14,350 500 2,450 250
Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering 7,150 150 6,400 175 6,000 175 400 100 D D 700 125 50 50
Chemical engineering 20,600 325 17,500 375 16,250 400 1,250 200 150 75 2,550 250 400 125
Civil engineering 14,850 350 13,550 350 12,500 375 1,100 175 200 100 1,050 175 * *
Electrical/computer engineering 49,350 500 44,100 500 41,600 500 2,500 275 750 150 3,750 325 750 175
Materials and metallurgical engineering 17,450 250 15,300 275 14,200 300 1,100 125 400 150 1,400 175 350 75
Mechanical engineering 24,600 375 22,150 450 21,150 475 1,000 200 250 100 1,850 250 400 150
Other engineering 37,200 350 32,900 400 30,650 425 2,250 175 750 150 3,050 200 500 100
Health 43,900 350 38,350 475 33,750 500 4,600 350 600 150 4,050 350 950 175
Codes used in data tables: * = suppressed when population estimate < 25. D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information. S = suppressed for reliability; coefficient of variation exceeds publication standards.
SE = standard error.
a Unemployed includes individuals who were not working during the survey reference week but had been seeking work in the prior 4 weeks or who were on layoff from their job.
b Not employed or not seeking work includes individuals who were not working during the survey reference week and had not been seeking work in the prior 4 weeks because of family responsibilities, chronic illness, or other reasons.
c Includes other physical sciences.
NOTES: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 50. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest 25. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Designation of full-time and part-time employment status is based on principal job only, not on all jobs held in labor force. For example, an individual could work part-time in his or her principal job but full-time in labor force. Residence location is based on reported living location on 1 February 2015.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2015.