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Trends in STEM Postsecondary Degree Attainment Between 2003 and 2015

• The number of overall bachelor's degrees and the number of bachelor's degrees in STEM fields increased substantially over the past decade.
• While the number of associate's degrees also increased over the past decade, the number of associate's degrees awarded in STEM fields remained flat.
• Women earn more bachelor's degrees overall but earn fewer STEM bachelor's degrees than men, resulting in a large gender gap in the proportion of bachelor's degrees that are STEM.
• The share of bachelor's degrees that are in STEM fields varies considerably by race/ethnicity.

Relationship Among STEM Bachelor's Degree Attainment, STEM Employment, and Employment Outcomes

• There is a large increase in wages associated with having a STEM bachelor's degree and with working in a STEM occupation.
• Oil and natural gas industry jobs pay significantly higher hourly wages.
• Women experience a larger increase than men in hourly wages, on average, for working in a STEM occupation.
• Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to work in STEM jobs compared with whites, and when they do procure STEM jobs, they earn less than whites.

Relationship Between Attaining a License or Certification and Employment Outcomes

• Possessing a license or certification is associated with an increased probability of employment, but not necessarily higher wages.
• The benefits of holding a license or certification are strongest for those lacking a high school diploma, women, and Hispanics.
• The benefits associated with certifications and licenses were mostly for overall employment and employment in STEM jobs.