Economic growth, technological change, and employment requirements for scientists and engineers

An important causal interrelationship between economic growth, technological change, and science and engineering employment is widely assumed. The authors examine this issue by factoring changes in the employment requirements for scientists, engineers, and technicians between 1972 and 1982 into those due to economic growth and those caused by technological change. Results for 28 industries and 42 science and engineering specialties are reported. It is found that the influence of economic growth and technological change is highly diverse among industries and occupations and that the relationship between technological change and increased demand for scientists and engineers is much more complex than is generally realized. While technological change is more important than economic growth in generating increased demand for scientists and engineers over the period, the differential effects vary widely among occupations. For some professions such as physics and metallurgical engineering, technological change actually reduces employment requirements.