The State of Human Resources in the Geosciences

1
The State of Human Resources in the Geosciences

• Christopher M. Keane
• 19 May 2003
• Washington, DC

2
US Geoscience Student Enrollment Normalization
1Undergraduate and Graduate Levels, 1955-2001
40000
35000
30000
Undergraduate
25000
20000
15000
10000
Graduates
5000
0
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
AGI, 2001
3
US Geoscience Student EnrollmentNormalization
2Undergraduate and Graduate Levels, 1955-2002
40000
35000
30000
Undergraduate
25000
Students
20000
15000
10000
Graduate
5000
0
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
Year
AGI, 2002
4
Total Degrees in GeoscienceNormalization
21973-2002
8000
7000
BS
MS
PhD
6000
5000
Degrees
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
Year
5
Female Geoscience Enrollment and Degrees
1974-2002
45
40
Enrolled
35
30
Percent Female
Graduated
25
20
15
10
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
Year
6
US Geoscience EmploymentAGI Demographic Survey
1986
Other
Academic
Retired/Unemployed
5
7
10
Government
Environmental
12
7
Mining
9
Petroleum
50
Total Population 120,000
7
US Geoscience EmploymentNSF National Survey of
College Graduates 1993
Academic
Retired/Unemployed
11
23
Government
Petroleum
12
Mining
Environment
34
12
7
Total Population 125,000
8
US Geoscience EmploymentAGI Demographic Survey
2000
Other
Unemployed/Retired
6
6
Petroleum
30
Academia
20
Mining
8
Government
Environmental
16
14
9
Petroleum Geoscientist DemandGeologists,
Geophysicists, and Engineers
90
80
Demand
??
70
??
60
Total Workforce
50
Current Workforce
Petroleum Geoscientists (Thousands)
40
30
20
New Entries (3 Growth)
10
0
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Year
10
The Geoscience Economy
Oil/Gas
Environmental
Academic RD
Coal
Mining
Fed RD
Source US BEA/NSF
11
GeoNP vs. GNP
150
10000
9000
140
GNP
8000
130
7000
6000
Billions of Dollars (Geo)
120
5000
GeoNP
Billions of Dollars (GNP)
110
4000
3000
100
2000
90
1000
80
0
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
12
Future Directions

• Improving response rates
• Looking at economic activity instead of heads?
• Address issues in Rand report
• Professional science degree
• Improving certainty for students