Share of Workers in Scientific Fields Shrinks

Analysis of Census Finds 4.9% in 2010, Down From 5.3% a Decade Earlier; Decline Is First Recorded in Labor Force Since 1950

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BY CONOR DOUGHERTY AND ROB BARRY

The share of American workers in the science and engineering professions fell slightly in the past decade, ending what had been a steady upward trend in the proportion of workers in fields associated with technological innovation and economic growth.

Workers in technical fields ranging from architecture to software design accounted for 4.9% of the labor force in 2010, according to a new analysis of Census data being released on Friday, down from a peak of 5.3% in 2000.

Before 2000, the share of these knowledge workers had increased in every 10-year Census since 1950, according to the Population Reference Bureau, ...

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