What is SESTAT?

This document is a brief overview of the SESTAT System. Scroll down for additional information.

SESTAT is a comprehensive and integrated system of information about the employment, educational and demographic characteristics of scientists and engineers in the United States. SESTAT is intended for both policy analysis and general research, having features for both the casual and more intensive data user. The data system is maintained by the Division of Science Resource Studies within the National Science Foundation (NSF).

SESTAT currently contains data from three NSF-sponsored demographic surveys, including 1993 survey responses from about 200,000 individuals. The NSF surveys provide compatible data which have been merged into a single integrated data system. These samples represent statistically about 30 million persons with bachelors degrees and above, and about 10 million persons with science and engineering degrees.

The system is now in a period of growth and development, expanding both data content and software features. The current system reflects a thorough redesign of previous NSF data collection and dissemination efforts. This redesign has affected definitions, probability sampling, questions and instrument design, methods of collection, procedures and all other aspects of the surveys.

Technical Information Click here for technical information on sampling, survey design, and other data collection activities.


Types of Data Available

SESTAT contains count and characteristics data for scientists and engineers such as:

Labor Force Information

For employed: For Unemployed and Not in the Labor Force:

Other Work-Related Data

Labor Force Status: Five Years Ago Professional Activities:

Education

Other Information

Family-related: Demographics: More on SESTAT Data Click here to explore in more detail the types of information currently available in SESTAT.

Accessing SESTAT

Access to SESTAT is through the world wide web (WWW) using the Netscape (HTML3) browser.

The SESTAT software will allow you to:


Confidentiality of the Data

The National Science Foundation pledges confidentiality to each survey respondent. The SESTAT system protects respondent confidentiality through a variety of electronic and other means.

Contact Information

For more information about SESTAT, explore the rest of the SESTAT Home Page. You will find information about SESTAT data collection and processing methodologies, SESTAT publications and answers for frequently asked questions about SESTAT. The Home Page also lists who to contact for additional information.


Updated: February 25, 1998