Glossary

Definitions

Full-time, year-round workers: Workers who were employed at least 50 weeks in the preceding year (year-round workers) and worked at least 35 hours per week during that year (full-time workers).

Internationally mobile students: Students who have physically crossed an international border to enroll with the objective of graduating with a degree in the country of destination. Students enrolled in short-term for-credit programs and exchange programs are excluded (UNESCO UIS 2025).

Science and engineering (S&E) degree fields: Under the National Center for Science and Engineering (NCSES) Taxonomy of Disciplines (TOD), S&E fields include agricultural sciences and natural resources; biological and biomedical sciences; computer and information sciences; engineering; geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences; mathematics and statistics; multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences; physical sciences; psychology; and social sciences. The fields taxonomy is guided by the NCSES TOD, and the fields may be aggregated further for analysis and reporting.

Science and engineering (S&E) occupations: Occupations in the following five major categories: (1) computer and mathematical scientists; (2) biological, agricultural, and environmental life scientists; (3) physical scientists; (4) social scientists; and (5) engineers.

Science and engineering (S&E)-related degree fields: Under the National Center for Science and Engineering (NCSES) Taxonomy of Disciplines (TOD), S&E-related fields include health professions and related programs; homeland security and fire protection; science and mathematics teacher education; technology and technical fields; and other science and engineering related fields. The fields taxonomy is guided by the NCSES TOD, and the fields may be aggregated further for analysis and reporting.

Science and engineering (S&E)-related occupations: These occupations require science and technology expertise but are not part of the five major categories of S&E occupations. S&E-related occupations include these four minor occupations: (1) health, (2) S&E managers, (3) S&E precollege teachers, and (4) technologists and technicians.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields: STEM fields include science and engineering (S&E) degree fields and S&E-related degree fields.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) middle-skill occupations: A range of occupations that require a high level of STEM expertise to perform their core duties, although these occupations do not require a bachelor’s degree for entry. STEM middle-skill occupations are primarily in health care; construction; installation, maintenance, and repair; and production.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce: The STEM workforce is composed of workers in S&E, S&E-related, or STEM middle-skill occupations.

Key to Acronyms and Abbreviations

ACS: American Community Survey

AP: Advanced Placement

BERD: Business Enterprise Research and Development survey

BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics

BRDIS: Business R&D and Innovation Survey

BRDS: Business Research and Development Survey

CPS: Current Population Survey

CRDC: Civil Rights Data Collection

HBCU: historically Black college or university

HSLS: High School Longitudinal Study

ICILS: International Computer and Information Literacy Study

IPEDS: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

K–12: kindergarten through 12th grade

NAEP: National Assessment of Educational Progress

NAICS: North American Industry Classification System

NCSES: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

NSB: National Science Board

NSCG: National Survey of College Graduates

NSLP: National School Lunch Program

OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

OEWS: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

PISA: Programme for International Student Assessment

PUMA: Public Use Microdata Area

R&D: research and development

S&E: science and engineering

SES: socioeconomic status

SIPP: Survey of Income and Program Participation

SIRD: Survey of Industrial Research and Development

STEM: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

TCCU: tribally controlled college or university

TIMSS: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study