The total business enterprise R&D personnel in the US was 1.9205 million full-time equivalents in 2023. The forecast indicates steady growth, with numbers reaching approximately 2.1679 million by 2028. Year-on-year growth shows a consistent increase of around 2.5% to 2.8%. This represents a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.5%.
Future trends to watch for:
- Impact of technological advancements on R&D personnel demand.
- Emergence of new industries requiring specialized R&D skills.
- Possible policy shifts that could influence R&D investments and staffing.
- Increased importance of sustainable and environmentally focused R&D roles.