The Pew Research Center published a report Tuesday about the barriers Latinos face in science, technology, engineering, and math, and concludes that most Latinos in the US feel that scientific careers are potentially unwelcoming to Latinos/Hispanics.

The analysis of the STEM workforce relies on a broad-based definition of those working in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These are jobs defined solely based on occupation and include any of 74 standard occupations in life sciences, physical and Earth sciences, engineering and architecture, computer and math occupations as well as health-related occupations including healthcare providers and technicians.

According to the report, Hispanic Americans are glaringly underrepresented among the ranks of scientists and those in allied professions. Hispanic adults make up 17% of the U.S. workforce but just 8% of those working in STEM jobs. Since 2010, there has been an increasing share of Hispanic students attending and graduating from college as well as a rise in the share earning a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field. Even so, Hispanic students remain underrepresented among college graduates and among master’s and doctoral degree-earners in STEM.

Meanwhile, white workers make up 63% of the workforce and 67% of STEM workers. Asians make up 6% of the total workforce but account for 13% of the country's STEM workforce.

The survey, conducted Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2021, includes 3,716 Hispanic adults; findings based on all Hispanic adults surveyed have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. “The questions asked in the survey were informed by a set of six focus groups among Hispanic adults, conducted virtually in July 2021, that elicited views about the COVID-19 pandemic, experiences and beliefs about the health and medical care systems, as well as people’s interests in science topics and their thoughts about ways to increase trust and engagement with science in Hispanic communities”, according to the Pew Center. 

Most respondents said that a more visible representation of high-performing Latinos in STEM would help encourage younger Latinos to pursue college degrees and careers in science, math, engineering, or technology.

The research institute conducted another research last year to examine the lack of Latinos in STEM jobs and, with the new study, “researchers wanted to dig deeper to figure out some potential barriers Latinos face into pursuing careers in science, technology and math, according to Cary Funk, director of science and society research at the Pew Research Center”, according to The Hill.

The survey findings suggest that most Latinos see scientific professions as potentially “unwelcoming” to Latino people. For example, just 26% of Latinos feel that scientists as a professional group are very welcoming of Latinos in these jobs; another 42% say they are somewhat welcoming. About three-in-ten (29%) view scientists as not too or not at all welcoming of Latinos in their ranks.

Hispanic adults also express a sense that Hispanic people are not visible at the highest levels of success in science careers. 

According to the report, “About six-in-ten say that Hispanic people have not reached the highest levels of success as scientists; fewer (35%) believe that they have. Perceptions of Hispanic achievement as engineers and medical doctors are relatively more positive: 53% and 59%, respectively, think Hispanic people have reached the highest levels of success in these professions”.

“A large majority of Hispanic adults say that seeing more examples of high achievers in STEM who are Hispanic would help a lot (50%) or a little (31%) to encourage more young Hispanic people to pursue college degrees in STEM fields”. 

The survey highlights greater achievement and visible representation among Latin Americans as a potential driver of STEM engagement among this population, including pursuing university degrees in these areas.