The American Immigration Council recently released Foreign-born STEM Workers in the United States, a fact sheet that describes the role that foreign-born workers play in the country’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workforce. This fact sheet highlights who make up STEM workers and their contribution to the American economy.

STEM workers include a set of 46 occupations that are classified into four different categories: computer and mathematics; engineering and surveying; physical and life science; and managerial. A broader interpretation of STEM adds health and social sciences, classifying a set of 87 occupations divided into six categories: management; computer and mathematics; architecture and engineering; life, physical, and social sciences; education, training, and library; and sales and related.  

These occupations are extremely important in today’s economy, and the importance of foreign-born workers in STEM occupations cannot be overstated. STEM workers are essential to the U.S. economy in terms of productivity and innovation. As of 2015, the foreign-born comprised one-fifth to one-quarter of the STEM workforce, depending on what occupations are included within the definition of STEM. Notably, the total number of foreign-born STEM workers in the U.S. workforce has increased dramatically since 1990, both in absolute numbers and as a share of the total workforce. This is true at the national and state levels. Additionally, foreign-born workers make up an increasing share of STEM workers in all occupational categories. Dayzad Law continues to work with immigrants of all backgrounds, including many STEM workers to help facilitate their entry into and continued productivity in the American workforce.