India is the top country of birth among Asian countries for immigrant scientists and engineers in US, with 950,000 out of the continent’s total 2.96 million. A new report from the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) has revealed that India’s 2013 figure represents an 85 percent increase from 2003.  In ten years (from 2003 to 2013), the number of scientists and engineers residing in the US rose from 21.6 million to 29 million.

Out of the immigrant scientists and engineers in the US in 2013, 57 percent were born in Asia while 20 percent were born in North America (excluding the US), Central America, the Caribbean or South America. “While 16 per cent were born in Europe, six percent were born in Africa and less than one percent were born in Oceania.

As per the latest statistics, from 2013, 63 percent of US immigrant scientists and engineers were naturalised citizens, while 22 percent were permanent residents and 15 percent were temporary visa holders. Since 2003, the number of scientists and engineers from the Philippines increased 53 percent and the number from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, increased 34 percent.

As found by the report, immigrant scientists and engineers were more likely to earn post-baccalaureate degrees than their US-born counterparts. In 2013, 32 percent of immigrant scientists reported their highest degree was a master’s (compared to 29 percent of US-born counterparts) and 9 percent reported it was a doctorate (compared to 4 percent of US-born counterparts).

Out of the immigrants in the science and engineering workforce, the largest share (18 percent) worked in computer and mathematical sciences, while the second-largest share (eight percent) worked in engineering. Three occupations – Life Scientist, Computer and Mathematical Scientist, and Social and Related Scientist – saw substantial immigrant employment growth from 2003 to 2013.