Military Service, Gender, and STEM Occupations

• In Event: 1184 - Section on Organizations, Occupations, and Work Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 01. Gender and STEM

Abstract

We use American Community Survey data to examine the role of military service as a pathway into STEM occupations. Specifically, we examine the extent to which veterans pursue STEM occupations, and how these patterns differ by demographic group. Results indicate that military service is positively associated with STEM occupations for those holding a bachelor’s degree in a non-STEM field. However, we find significant gender differences for those with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field. While female veterans with a STEM degree are significantly more likely to work in a STEM occupation than female civilians with a STEM degree, male veterans with a STEM degree are significantly less likely to work in a STEM occupation than male civilians with a STEM degree. While this pattern holds across four different definitions of STEM employed by key federal agencies, it is most pronounced when we employ the broader definitions that include a host of medical fields traditionally recruiting women. These findings suggest that the military may serve as a key pathway for women entering STEM occupations, with downstream implications for efforts to broaden participation, recruitment and retention in a wide range of STEM occupations.

Authors

• Regina E. Werum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Christina R. Steidl, University of Alabama-Huntsville

• Sela Harcey, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Jacob P. Absalon, United States Military Academy