The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2026 Released

The National Science Board (NSB) recently released The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2026 report. Every two years, the NSB prepares this report, which examines the state of U.S. science and engineering over time and within a global context. It summarizes key findings in areas such as education and workforce; U.S. and international research and development performance, including in high-tech industries; and technology transfer, invention and innovation.

In the 2026 report, the NSB highlights many key takeaways including:

• The STEM workforce grew faster than the non-STEM workforce between 2014 and 2024 and now accounts for roughly 26% of total domestic employment.
• STEM workers experienced lower unemployment and higher median earnings than workers in other occupations.
• Average scores on national mathematics and science assessments for K–12 students have declined from their pre-pandemic levels, and U.S. eighth graders performed at or below the international average on science, mathematics, and computer and information literacy assessments in 2023.

This report, the thematic reports, and the online data tool together make up the full suite of products. You can access them on the NSB website.