Scientists and Engineers

Civilian scientists and engineers as a percentage of the workforce.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? In the New Economy, the key engines of growth—technology and research-based companies and industries—are fueled by a large and high-caliber scientific and engineering workforce. So growing or attracting a high-quality, scientific workforce is critical to continued economic growth in states. These workers allow state economies to boost innovation and technological change (in both new products and production processes), and in so doing create higher value added and higher-wage jobs.

THE RANKINGS: States with the highest rankings tend to be high-tech states (such as Massachusetts, California, and Utah); states with significant corporate R&D laboratory facilities (such as Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York); or states with significant federal laboratory facilities (like New Mexico, Maryland, and Rhode Island).

STATES BY RANK
Rank	State	Score
1	Delaware	1.07%
2	New Mexico	1.00%
3	Maryland	.85%
4	Massachusetts	.81%
5	New Jersey	.56%
6	Colorado	.56%
7	Vermont	.55%
8	Rhode Island	.55%
9	Connecticut	.54%
10	New York	.53%
11	Utah	.52%
12	California	.51%
13	Virginia	.50%
14	Washington	.49%
15	Alaska	.47%
16	Montana	.46%
17	Pennsylvania	.46%
18	North Dakota	.46%
19	Hawaii	.46%
20	Oregon	.42%
21	Maine	.41%
22	North Carolina	.40%
23	Illinois	.38%
24	Minnesota	.38%
25	New Hampshire	.37%
26	Ohio	.37%
27	Michigan	.36%
28	Idaho	.36%
29	Tennessee	.35%
30	Arizona	.35%
31	Missouri	.34%
32	Wyoming	.34%
33	Texas	.34%
34	Nebraska	.33%
35	Oklahoma	.32%
36	Alabama	.32%
37	Kansas	.32%
38	Louisiana	.31%
39	Iowa	.31%
40	Georgia	.30%
41	West Virginia	.30%
42	South Dakota	.30%
43	Indiana	.29%
44	Wisconsin	.29%
45	South Carolina	.28%
46	Mississippi	.26%
47	Kentucky	.24%
48	Florida	.23%
49	Nevada	.23%
50	Arkansas	.20%

	U.S. average	.43%

ALPHABETICALLY
State	Rank	Score
Alabama	36	.32%
Alaska	15	.47%
Arizona	30	.35%
Arkansas	50	.20%
California	12	.51%
Colorado	6	.56%
Connecticut	9	.54%
Delaware	1	1.07%
Florida	48	.23%
Georgia	40	.30%
Hawaii	19	.46%
Idaho	28	.36%
Illinois	23	.38%
Indiana	43	.29%
Iowa	39	.31%
Kansas	37	.32%
Kentucky	47	.24%
Louisiana	38	.31%
Maine	21	.41%
Maryland	3	.85%
Massachusetts	4	.81%
Michigan	27	.36%
Minnesota	24	.38%
Mississippi	46	.26%
Missouri	31	.34%
Montana	16	.46%
Nebraska	34	.33%
Nevada	49	.23%
New Hampshire	25	.37%
New Jersey	5	.56%
New Mexico	2	1.00%
New York	10	.53%
North Carolina	22	.40%
North Dakota	18	.46%
Ohio	26	.37%
Oklahoma	35	.32%
Oregon	20	.42%
Pennsylvania	17	.46%
Rhode Island	8	.55%
South Carolina	45	.28%
South Dakota	42	.30%
Tennessee	29	.35%
Texas	33	.34%
Utah	11	.52%
Vermont	7	.55%
Virginia	13	.50%
Washington	14	.49%
West Virginia	41	.30%
Wisconsin	44	.29%
Wyoming	32	.34%

Source: National Science Foundation, 1995 data.

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The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI)
Technology, Innovation, and New Economy Project
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