Employment status

Scientists and engineers are more likely to cite retirement than other reasons for not working. Asian women are the one exception, naming family responsibilities as the most frequent reason. Within each racial and ethnic group of scientists and engineers, women are far more likely than men to cite family responsibilities as a reason for not working and less likely than men to cite retirement as a reason. Among both white and Asian scientists and engineers, men are more likely than women to cite having been laid off as a reason for not working.