Manpower requirements of scientists and engineers in high technology industries

This paper analyzes the impact on job requirements for engineers, scientists, technicians and skilled workers of the output of high technology and research intensive industries. The manpower requirements for 22 occupations resulting from a billion dollars of output of each of 12 industries are estimated for 1983. The manpower impacts of the total output of each industry are then simulated to determine the importance of economic activity in these industries in creating employment within each occupation in 1983. Occupational manpower requirements generated by the industries' 1983 outputs are analyzed in relation to total industry output and employment and total employment within each occupation. It is found that the industries analyzed here, although accounting for only 19% of GNP, are responsible for creating between 25% and 60% of many science, engineering and related jobs. These results are detailed for each industry and for every occupation, and the direct and the indirect manpower requirements for each occupation are computed. The implications of these findings are briefly discussed.