United States Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual
Number of Researchers: Total
Number of Researchers: Total data was reported at 1,889,780.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,823,522.000 Person for 2020. Number of Researchers: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 1,856,651.000 Person from Dec 2020 (Median) to 2021, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,889,780.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 1,823,522.000 Person in 2020. Number of Researchers: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.
For the United States, from 2021 onwards, changes to the US BERD survey questionnaire allowed for more exhaustive identification of acquisition costs for ‘identifiable intangible assets’ used for R&D. This has resulted in a substantial increase in reported R&D capital expenditure within BERD. In the business sector, the funds from the rest of the world previously included in the business-financed BERD, are available separately from 2008. From 2006 onwards, GOVERD includes state government intramural performance (most of which being financed by the federal government and state government own funds). From 2016 onwards, PNPERD data are based on a new R&D performer survey. In the higher education sector all fields of SSH are included from 2003 onwards.
Following a survey of federally-funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in 2005, it was concluded that FFRDC R&D belongs in the government sector - rather than the sector of the FFRDC administrator, as had been reported in the past. R&D expenditures by FFRDCs were reclassified from the other three R&D performing sectors to the Government sector; previously published data were revised accordingly. Between 2003 and 2004, the method used to classify data by industry has been revised. This particularly affects the ISIC category “wholesale trade” and consequently the BERD for total services.
U.S. R&D data are generally comparable, but there are some areas of underestimation:
- i) Up to 2008, Government sector R&D performance covers only federal government activities. That by State and local government establishments is excluded;
- ii) Except for the Government and the Business Enterprise sectors, the R&D data exclude most capital expenditures. For the Business Enterprise sector, depreciation is reported in place of gross capital expenditures up to 2014. Higher education (and national total) data were revised back to 1998 due to an improved methodology that corrects for double-counting of R&D funds passed between institutions.
Breakdown by type of R&D (basic research, applied research, etc.) was also revised back to 1998 in the business enterprise and higher education sectors due to improved estimation procedures.
The methodology for estimating researchers was changed as of 1985. In the Government, Higher Education and PNP sectors the data since then refer to employed doctoral scientists and engineers who report their primary work activity as research, development or the management of R&D, plus, for the Higher Education sector, the number of full-time equivalent graduate students with research assistantships averaging an estimated 50 % of their time engaged in R&D activities. As of 1985 researchers in the Government sector exclude military personnel. As of 1987, Higher education R&D personnel also include those who report their primary work activity as design.
Due to lack of official data for the different employment sectors, the total researchers figure is an OECD estimate up to 2019. Comprehensive reporting of R&D personnel statistics by the United States has resumed with records available since 2020, reflecting the addition of official figures for the number of researchers and total R&D personnel for the higher education sector and the Private non-profit sector; as well as the number of researchers for the government sector. The new data revise downwards previous OECD estimates as the OECD extrapolation methods drawing on historical US data, required to produce a consistent OECD aggregate, appear to have previously overestimated the growth in the number of researchers in the higher education sector.
Pre-production development is excluded from Defence GBARD (in accordance with the Frascati Manual) as of 2000. 2009 GBARD data also includes the one time incremental R&D funding legislated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning with the 2000 GBARD data, budgets for capital expenditure – “R&D plant” in national terminology - are included. GBARD data for earlier years relate to budgets for current costs only.
| Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1,889,780.000 2021 | yearly | 2020 - 2021 |
View United States's Number of Researchers: Total from 2020 to 2021 in the chart:
US: Business Enterprise Researchers: Per Thousand Employment in Industry
US: Business Enterprise Researchers: Per Thousand Employment in Industry data was reported at 11.683 Per 1000 in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.363 Per 1000 for 2019. US: Business Enterprise Researchers: Per Thousand Employment in Industry data is updated yearly, averaging 9.108 Per 1000 from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2020, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.683 Per 1000 in 2020 and a record low of 8.026 Per 1000 in 2008. US: Business Enterprise Researchers: Per Thousand Employment in Industry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.
Definition of MSTI variables 'Value Added of Industry' and 'Industrial Employment':
R&D data are typically expressed as a percentage of GDP to allow cross-country comparisons. When compiling such indicators for the business enterprise sector, one may wish to exclude, from GDP measures, economic activities for which the Business R&D (BERD) is null or negligible by definition. By doing so, the adjusted denominator (GDP, or Value Added, excluding non-relevant industries) better correspond to the numerator (BERD) with which it is compared to.
The MSTI variable 'Value added in industry' is used to this end:
It is calculated as the total Gross Value Added (GVA) excluding 'real estate activities' (ISIC rev.4 68) where the 'imputed rent of owner-occupied dwellings', specific to the framework of the System of National Accounts, represents a significant share of total GVA and has no R&D counterpart. Moreover, the R&D performed by the community, social and personal services is mainly driven by R&D performers other than businesses.
Consequently, the following service industries are also excluded: ISIC rev.4 84 to 88 and 97 to 98. GVA data are presented at basic prices except for the People's Republic of China, Japan and New Zealand (expressed at producers' prices).In the same way, some indicators on R&D personnel in the business sector are expressed as a percentage of industrial employment. The latter corresponds to total employment excluding ISIC rev.4 68, 84 to 88 and 97 to 98.
| Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 11.683 2020 | yearly | 2008 - 2020 |
View United States's US: Business Enterprise Researchers: Per Thousand Employment in Industry from 2008 to 2020 in the chart:
US: Business Enterprise Sector: Number of Researchers: Total
US: Business Enterprise Sector: Number of Researchers: Total data was reported at 1,466,769.000 Person in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,454,417.000 Person for 2021. US: Business Enterprise Sector: Number of Researchers: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 1,014,000.000 Person from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2022, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,466,769.000 Person in 2022 and a record low of 950,000.000 Person in 2010. US: Business Enterprise Sector: Number of Researchers: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.
For the United States, some respondents revised their reporting practices and eliminated expenditures that did not meet the definition of R&D during the 2023 BERD data collection. This has resulted in a meaningful decrease in estimated U.S. R&D performance compared to the amount of 2023 R&D performance that would have been estimated based on respondent reporting practices used in 2022 and earlier..From 2021 onwards, changes to the US BERD survey questionnaire allowed for more exhaustive identification of acquisition costs for ‘identifiable intangible assets’ used for R&D. This has resulted in a substantial increase in reported R&D capital expenditure within BERD. In the business sector, the funds from the rest of the world previously included in the business-financed BERD, are available separately from 2008. From 2006 onwards, GOVERD includes state government intramural performance (most of which being financed by the federal government and state government own funds). From 2016 onwards, PNPERD data are based on a new R&D performer survey. In the higher education sector all fields of SSH are included from 2003 onwards.
Following a survey of federally-funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in 2005, it was concluded that FFRDC R&D belongs in the government sector - rather than the sector of the FFRDC administrator, as had been reported in the past. R&D expenditures by FFRDCs were reclassified from the other three R&D performing sectors to the Government sector; previously published data were revised accordingly. Between 2003 and 2004, the method used to classify data by industry has been revised. This particularly affects the ISIC category “wholesale trade” and consequently the BERD for total services.
U.S. R&D data are generally comparable, but there are some areas of underestimation:
- i) Up to 2008, Government sector R&D performance covers only federal government activities. That by State and local government establishments is excluded;
- ii) Except for the Government and the Business Enterprise sectors, the R&D data exclude most capital expenditures. For the Business Enterprise sector, depreciation is reported in place of gross capital expenditures up to 2014. Higher education (and national total) data were revised back to 1998 due to an improved methodology that corrects for double-counting of R&D funds passed between institutions.
Breakdown by type of R&D (basic research, applied research, etc.) was also revised back to 1998 in the business enterprise and higher education sectors due to improved estimation procedures.
The methodology for estimating researchers was changed as of 1985. In the Government, Higher Education and PNP sectors the data since then refer to employed doctoral scientists and engineers who report their primary work activity as research, development or the management of R&D, plus, for the Higher Education sector, the number of full-time equivalent graduate students with research assistantships averaging an estimated 50 % of their time engaged in R&D activities. As of 1985 researchers in the Government sector exclude military personnel. As of 1987, Higher education R&D personnel also include those who report their primary work activity as design.
Due to lack of official data for the different employment sectors, the total researchers figure is an OECD estimate up to 2021. As of 2022, it is based on official personnel data available for all sectors. For years 2020 and 2021, it is based on official personnel data available for the business, PNP and Higher Education sectors, and OECD estimates for the Government sector (for estimating the missing FFRDC component). For previous years, OECD estimates were readjusted back to 2000.
The government personnel data includes the state government R&D personnel from 2021 and FFRDC R&D personnel from 2022. However, 8 FFRDC centres are not included as they could not report their R&D personnel data. These 8 centres account for 24% of the total R&D expenditure of all FFRDCs in 2022. Pre-production development is excluded from Defence GBARD (in accordance with the Frascati Manual) as of 2000. 2009 GBARD data also includes the one time incremental R&D funding legislated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning with the 2000 GBARD data, budgets for capital expenditure – “R&D plant” in national terminology - are included. GBARD data for earlier years relate to budgets for current costs only.
| Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1,454,417.000 2021 | yearly | 2008 - 2021 |
View United States's US: Business Enterprise Sector: Number of Researchers: Total from 2008 to 2021 in the chart:
US: Total Business Enterprise R&D Personnel: Per Thousand Employment In Industry
US: Total Business Enterprise R&D Personnel: Per Thousand Employment In Industry data was reported at 17.169 Per 1000 in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.152 Per 1000 for 2019. US: Total Business Enterprise R&D Personnel: Per Thousand Employment In Industry data is updated yearly, averaging 13.282 Per 1000 from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.169 Per 1000 in 2020 and a record low of 12.478 Per 1000 in 2012. US: Total Business Enterprise R&D Personnel: Per Thousand Employment In Industry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.
Definition of MSTI variables 'Value Added of Industry' and 'Industrial Employment':
R&D data are typically expressed as a percentage of GDP to allow cross-country comparisons. When compiling such indicators for the business enterprise sector, one may wish to exclude, from GDP measures, economic activities for which the Business R&D (BERD) is null or negligible by definition. By doing so, the adjusted denominator (GDP, or Value Added, excluding non-relevant industries) better correspond to the numerator (BERD) with which it is compared to.
The MSTI variable 'Value added in industry' is used to this end:
It is calculated as the total Gross Value Added (GVA) excluding 'real estate activities' (ISIC rev.4 68) where the 'imputed rent of owner-occupied dwellings', specific to the framework of the System of National Accounts, represents a significant share of total GVA and has no R&D counterpart. Moreover, the R&D performed by the community, social and personal services is mainly driven by R&D performers other than businesses.
Consequently, the following service industries are also excluded: ISIC rev.4 84 to 88 and 97 to 98. GVA data are presented at basic prices except for the People's Republic of China, Japan and New Zealand (expressed at producers' prices).In the same way, some indicators on R&D personnel in the business sector are expressed as a percentage of industrial employment. The latter corresponds to total employment excluding ISIC rev.4 68, 84 to 88 and 97 to 98.
| Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 17.169 2020 | yearly | 2011 - 2020 |
View United States's US: Total Business Enterprise R&D Personnel: Per Thousand Employment In Industry from 2011 to 2020 in the chart:
US: Total Researchers: Full-Time Equivalent
US: Total Researchers: Full-Time Equivalent data was reported at 1,639,258.000 FTE in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,513,964.000 FTE for 2020. US: Total Researchers: Full-Time Equivalent data is updated yearly, averaging 998,340.036 FTE from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2021, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,639,258.000 FTE in 2021 and a record low of 531,938.478 FTE in 1981. US: Total Researchers: Full-Time Equivalent data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.
For the United States, from 2021 onwards, changes to the US BERD survey questionnaire allowed for more exhaustive identification of acquisition costs for ‘identifiable intangible assets’ used for R&D. This has resulted in a substantial increase in reported R&D capital expenditure within BERD. In the business sector, the funds from the rest of the world previously included in the business-financed BERD, are available separately from 2008. From 2006 onwards, GOVERD includes state government intramural performance (most of which being financed by the federal government and state government own funds). From 2016 onwards, PNPERD data are based on a new R&D performer survey. In the higher education sector all fields of SSH are included from 2003 onwards.
Following a survey of federally-funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in 2005, it was concluded that FFRDC R&D belongs in the government sector - rather than the sector of the FFRDC administrator, as had been reported in the past. R&D expenditures by FFRDCs were reclassified from the other three R&D performing sectors to the Government sector; previously published data were revised accordingly. Between 2003 and 2004, the method used to classify data by industry has been revised. This particularly affects the ISIC category “wholesale trade” and consequently the BERD for total services.
U.S. R&D data are generally comparable, but there are some areas of underestimation:
- i) Up to 2008, Government sector R&D performance covers only federal government activities. That by State and local government establishments is excluded;
- ii) Except for the Government and the Business Enterprise sectors, the R&D data exclude most capital expenditures. For the Business Enterprise sector, depreciation is reported in place of gross capital expenditures up to 2014. Higher education (and national total) data were revised back to 1998 due to an improved methodology that corrects for double-counting of R&D funds passed between institutions.
Breakdown by type of R&D (basic research, applied research, etc.) was also revised back to 1998 in the business enterprise and higher education sectors due to improved estimation procedures.
The methodology for estimating researchers was changed as of 1985. In the Government, Higher Education and PNP sectors the data since then refer to employed doctoral scientists and engineers who report their primary work activity as research, development or the management of R&D, plus, for the Higher Education sector, the number of full-time equivalent graduate students with research assistantships averaging an estimated 50 % of their time engaged in R&D activities. As of 1985 researchers in the Government sector exclude military personnel. As of 1987, Higher education R&D personnel also include those who report their primary work activity as design.
Due to lack of official data for the different employment sectors, the total researchers figure is an OECD estimate up to 2019. Comprehensive reporting of R&D personnel statistics by the United States has resumed with records available since 2020, reflecting the addition of official figures for the number of researchers and total R&D personnel for the higher education sector and the Private non-profit sector; as well as the number of researchers for the government sector. The new data revise downwards previous OECD estimates as the OECD extrapolation methods drawing on historical US data, required to produce a consistent OECD aggregate, appear to have previously overestimated the growth in the number of researchers in the higher education sector.
Pre-production development is excluded from Defence GBARD (in accordance with the Frascati Manual) as of 2000. 2009 GBARD data also includes the one time incremental R&D funding legislated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning with the 2000 GBARD data, budgets for capital expenditure – “R&D plant” in national terminology - are included. GBARD data for earlier years relate to budgets for current costs only.
| Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1,639,258.000 2021 | yearly | 1981 - 2021 |
View United States's US: Total Researchers: Full-Time Equivalent from 1981 to 2021 in the chart:
US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Labour Force
US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Labour Force data was reported at 9.206 Per 1000 in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.704 Per 1000 for 2019. US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 6.866 Per 1000 from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2020, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.206 Per 1000 in 2020 and a record low of 4.800 Per 1000 in 1981. US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.
| Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 9.206 2020 | yearly | 1981 - 2020 |
View United States's US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Labour Force from 1981 to 2020 in the chart:
US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Total Employment
US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Total Employment data was reported at 10.592 Per 1000 in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.095 Per 1000 for 2020. US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 7.171 Per 1000 from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2021, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.592 Per 1000 in 2021 and a record low of 5.145 Per 1000 in 1981. US: Total Researchers: Per Thousand Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Number of Researchers and Personnel on Research and Development: OECD Member: Annual.
For the United States, from 2021 onwards, changes to the US BERD survey questionnaire allowed for more exhaustive identification of acquisition costs for ‘identifiable intangible assets’ used for R&D. This has resulted in a substantial increase in reported R&D capital expenditure within BERD. In the business sector, the funds from the rest of the world previously included in the business-financed BERD, are available separately from 2008. From 2006 onwards, GOVERD includes state government intramural performance (most of which being financed by the federal government and state government own funds). From 2016 onwards, PNPERD data are based on a new R&D performer survey. In the higher education sector all fields of SSH are included from 2003 onwards.
Following a survey of federally-funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in 2005, it was concluded that FFRDC R&D belongs in the government sector - rather than the sector of the FFRDC administrator, as had been reported in the past. R&D expenditures by FFRDCs were reclassified from the other three R&D performing sectors to the Government sector; previously published data were revised accordingly. Between 2003 and 2004, the method used to classify data by industry has been revised. This particularly affects the ISIC category “wholesale trade” and consequently the BERD for total services.
U.S. R&D data are generally comparable, but there are some areas of underestimation:
- i) Up to 2008, Government sector R&D performance covers only federal government activities. That by State and local government establishments is excluded;
- ii) Except for the Government and the Business Enterprise sectors, the R&D data exclude most capital expenditures. For the Business Enterprise sector, depreciation is reported in place of gross capital expenditures up to 2014. Higher education (and national total) data were revised back to 1998 due to an improved methodology that corrects for double-counting of R&D funds passed between institutions.
Breakdown by type of R&D (basic research, applied research, etc.) was also revised back to 1998 in the business enterprise and higher education sectors due to improved estimation procedures.
The methodology for estimating researchers was changed as of 1985. In the Government, Higher Education and PNP sectors the data since then refer to employed doctoral scientists and engineers who report their primary work activity as research, development or the management of R&D, plus, for the Higher Education sector, the number of full-time equivalent graduate students with research assistantships averaging an estimated 50 % of their time engaged in R&D activities. As of 1985 researchers in the Government sector exclude military personnel. As of 1987, Higher education R&D personnel also include those who report their primary work activity as design.
Due to lack of official data for the different employment sectors, the total researchers figure is an OECD estimate up to 2019. Comprehensive reporting of R&D personnel statistics by the United States has resumed with records available since 2020, reflecting the addition of official figures for the number of researchers and total R&D personnel for the higher education sector and the Private non-profit sector; as well as the number of researchers for the government sector. The new data revise downwards previous OECD estimates as the OECD extrapolation methods drawing on historical US data, required to produce a consistent OECD aggregate, appear to have previously overestimated the growth in the number of researchers in the higher education sector.
Pre-production development is excluded from Defence GBARD (in accordance with the Frascati Manual) as of 2000. 2009 GBARD data also includes the one time incremental R&D funding legislated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning with the 2000 GBARD data, budgets for capital expenditure – “R&D plant” in national terminology - are included. GBARD data for earlier years relate to budgets for current costs only.
| Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 10.592 2021 | yearly | 1981 - 2021 |