2016 Australia's STEM Workforce Report

Key facts

A new report by the Office of the Chief Scientist provides the first detailed analysis of Australia’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) trained workforce.

By investigating the demographics, industries, occupations and salaries of STEM workers, the report is a valuable resource for students, teachers and policymakers.

Based on data from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing, the report finds that Australia’s STEM workforce are employed in a diverse range of jobs.

Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel said that Australia’s STEM Workforce provides a wealth of information on where a STEM qualification may take you.

“Studying STEM opens up countless job options and this report shows that Australians are taking diverse career paths.” Dr Finkel said.

“It is critical that qualifications at all levels prepare students for the breadth of roles and industries they might pursue.”

Australia’s STEM Workforce can be downloaded as a full report, or by chapters below. For readers interested in particular STEM disciplines, Part 2 of the report focusses on detailed analysis of selected disciplines, which can be opened as stand alone chapters.

An infographic illustrating key findings from the report is also available.

Australia’s STEM Workforce – Full report

Foreword

Chapter 1 Introduction

 

Part 1 Australia’s STEM capability 

Chapter 2 Demographics of Australia’s STEM qualified population

Chapter 3 Employment status of Australia’s STEM qualified population

 

Part 2 Pathways of university STEM graduates in Australia 

Chapter 4 STEM pathways: Overview

Chapter 5 STEM pathways: Physics and astronomy

Chapter 6 STEM pathways: Chemical sciences

Chapter 7 STEM pathways: Earth sciences

Chapter 8 STEM pathways: Biological sciences

Chapter 9 STEM pathways: Agricultural sciences

Chapter 10 STEM pathways: Environmental studies

Chapter 11 STEM pathways: Information technologies

Chapter 12 STEM pathways: Engineering and related technologies

Chapter 13 STEM pathways: Mathematical sciences

Chapter 14 Future Directions

Appendixes and References