New Interactive Dashboard Unveils Key Data on Federal Workforce in Physical Sciences and Engineering
A groundbreaking interactive dashboard has been launched by the American Institute of Physics (AIP), providing in-depth statistics on over 170,000 federal employees within the physical sciences and engineering sectors from 1998 to 2024. This innovative resource serves as a pivotal component of AIP’s 2025 Research Agenda, aiming to enhance understanding and insight into the federal workforce landscape.
Utilizing data sourced from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s FedScope, the dashboard features an interactive map charting the distribution of federal scientists and engineers across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and international postings. It highlights significant employment trends, including average salaries, length of service, age demographics, and retirement eligibility — critical information for stakeholders within the scientific community.
John Tyler, senior data scientist at AIP, expressed the importance of this dashboard, stating, “These data are incredibly important for the science community. The interactive visualizations provide a starting point for parsing the wealth of information contained within the FedScope employment data cubes.” This sentiment echoes the biblical principle of seeking knowledge and understanding, as highlighted in Proverbs 18:15: “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”
The dashboard illustrates the stable overall employee numbers within the physical sciences and engineering sectors over the past 25 years, while also showcasing shifts in average salaries and workforce demographics. Notably, California, Virginia, and Maryland emerge as the leading states for federal employees in these fields, underlining the ongoing commitment to scientific and engineering endeavors nationwide.
AIP’s Chief Research Officer, Trevor Owens, remarked on the significance of visualizing 25 years of data, noting its potential to reveal the “dramatic and unprecedented current efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.” In an age where change is constant, these insights may serve a greater purpose — fostering resilience and adaptability, characteristics warmly encouraged in biblical teachings. The Bible reminds us in James 1:2-3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
The interactive dashboard not only serves as a vital tool for researchers and policymakers but also stands as a reflection of the larger journey we embark on in life — one of growth, learning, and adaptability. So, as you explore these insights, consider the broader implications of such data. How does your own journey reflect perseverance in the face of change?
As we engage with this new resource, let it remind us to seek knowledge and understanding, to adapt to the changing landscape of our workforce and our lives—embracing both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
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