The average age of the Federal science and engineering (S&E) workforce increased over the 1989-93 period. In 1989, 25.1 percent of the scientists employed by the Federal Government were under the age of 35
and 10.6 percent were 55 years of age or older (table 7).
By 1993, 22.6 percent of the scientists were under the age of 35 and 11.4 percent were 55 years of age or older. Further, in 1989, 42 percent of the engineers were under the age of 35 and 11.9 percent were 55 years of age or older. In 1993, however, 38.3 percent of engineers were under the age of 35 and 12.9 percent were 55 years of age or older.
An analysis of age profiles by selected work activity reveals that Federal scientists and engineers employed in development; design; installation, operations, and maintenance; test and evaluation; and
production are more likely to be younger than those employed in research. This trend intensified during the period covered in this report. Of the Federal S&E workforce under the age of 35 in 1989, 24.5 percent were engaged in research work; 42.6
percent, in development work; and 41.4 percent, in design work (table 8).
In 1993, these same proportions were 21.4 percent, 40.2 percent, and 35.3 percent, respectively. As expected, the proportion of Federal S&Es working in management under the age of 35 is small (12.8 percent in 1989 and 13.1 percent in 1993). The share of Federal S&Es 55 years of age or older in management increased from 18.7 percent in 1989 to 20.8 percent in 1993.
Table 7
Table 8