Interactive Tables and Charts
Data Workforce
NASA Civil Servant Workforce, FY 2013-2023
In 2022, NASA was named the best place to work in the federal government among large agencies for the 10th year in a row. NASA attributed this “decade of excellence” to the agency’s continuing dedication to supporting and strengthening its workforce.
Representation of Women and Minorities in Selected Industries, 2020
In the U.S. population as a whole, minorities (non-white individuals) make up nearly 42% of the workforce. Similar proportions of minorities are seen in Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing and Telecommunications.
Representation of Women and Minorities in Selected Industries and Aerospace Companies
While all U.S. space companies with at least 100 employees (or at least 50 employees if they do work for the government) are required to collect information on diversity and report it to the U.S. government, most do not make this data available to the public. However, four of the largest aerospace contractors — Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Raytheon — make their EEO-1 reports public.
NASA Civil Servant Workforce Age Profiles over Time 1993-2023
For many years, NASA has been working to manage the aging of its workforce. As of the beginning of FY 2023, 23% of the NASA workforce was eligible for retirement.
U.S. Private Sector Space Industry Employment, 2012-2022
The private space sector has grown more than 18% over the past five years and proved to be resilient to the negative effects on total U.S. employment associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Representation of Women and Minorities among Senior Officials and Management Compared to Representation in U.S. Workforce
Four of the largest aerospace contractors — Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Raytheon — make their EEO-1 reports public. Within these companies, the proportion of females and minorities is similar to that seen in the transportation manufacturing sector overall. However, they have significantly fewer Black employees than that sector, on average.
Foreign-Born Individuals in S&E Occupations in The United States, By Level Of Degree and Occupation: 2017
The National Science Foundation in 2020 found that many firms covered shortfalls in science and engineering workers by courting immigrants. More than a third of workers holding doctorate degrees in science and engineering jobs across America were born in another country.
U.S. Aerospace Engineers by Age
In addition to the current openings, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the need for aerospace engineers possessing at least a bachelor’s degree to grow by 6% through 2031.
U.S. Space Force Enlisted Guardians, 2022
While recruitment has been a challenge across other sections of the military, the Space Force has had more applicants than it could accept. For example, when looking for cyber professionals with private-sector experience, the Space Force received hundreds of applications for six positions.
Science and Engineering Degrees, in Thousands, 2000-2016
“Space education, research, and workforce development in the public and private sectors are core components of the U.S. national interest, with the potential to drive exploration and scientific discovery, to find new solutions for pressing challenges, including climate change, to strengthen American national security, and to provide good-paying jobs for Americans,” the roadmap document states.