Science, health and the research workforce
Examples use releases available September 5, 2026. Dates and survey coverage are stated beside the findings.
Science occupations, research employers and medical prices describe different parts of the economy. Keeping those distinctions visible makes comparisons more useful.
Science workers and scientific employers
Between January 2019 and January 2025, CPS employment in life, physical and social science occupations rose from 1.584 million to 2.032 million people, an increase of 28.28%. Women's employment in those occupations rose from 800,000 to 1.095 million. Their derived share increased from 50.51% to 53.89%, or 3.38 percentage points. These are national, not seasonally adjusted estimates. Sources: science occupation employment and women in science occupations.
The comparison spans January population-control updates and a 2020 occupation-classification change. It describes published levels, not a continuously followed group of workers or a statistically established change in representation.
Science occupations can be found across many industries. Research employers also hire people in administration, sales and other occupations. CES industry payrolls and CPS occupation employment therefore cannot be combined into one headcount. See CPS concepts and CES concepts.
Medical prices do not move together
From December 2024 to December 2025, national unadjusted CPI-U indexes changed as follows:
| Category | December 2024 index | December 2025 index | Annual price change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical care services | 619.686 | 641.566 | +3.53% |
| Hospital services | 418.467 | 446.056 | +6.59% |
| Prescription drugs | 558.744 | 569.656 | +1.95% |
Sources: medical care services, hospital services, and prescription drugs.
These are indexes, not dollar prices. The hospital series has a different index base, so its index level should not be compared directly with the other levels. Within-series percentage changes are comparable as rates of price change. None measures a particular patient's bill, insurance coverage, utilization or out-of-pocket burden. See CPI guidance.
Hiring is a flow, vacancies are a stock
In health care and social assistance, seasonally adjusted JOLTS openings rose from 1.157 million in February 2020 to 1.457 million in February 2025. Monthly hires rose from 667,000 to 710,000, and separations from 636,000 to 658,000. The derived hires-minus-separations flow was +31,000 and +52,000, respectively. Sources: openings, hires, and separations.
Openings are measured at the end of the month; hires and separations occur throughout it. These employer-industry totals cannot identify particular occupations, explain individual departures, or establish the effect of a health policy.
Continue with household costs and hiring or explore the data.