In 2023, the United States led in the number of persons employed in high and medium-high R&D intensive activities, with significant year-on-year growth of 0.94%. Germany and South Korea followed, showing modest increases of 0.99% and 1.0%, respectively. Poland and the Czech Republic experienced notable increases, with Poland at 1.74% and the Czech Republic at 1.43%. Conversely, Colombia and Norway faced declines over the last year. Over the past five years, trends suggest a steady average annual growth for most countries, indicating a global push towards enhancing R&D sectors.
Future trends to watch include:
- Continued leadership by the United States in R&D employment, potentially widening the gap with other nations.
- Emerging growth in Eastern Europe, with Poland as a key player in increasing its R&D workforce.
- Potential recovery efforts in Colombia and Norway to curb declining R&D employment numbers.
- Experimentation and adoption of new technologies in established European countries to sustain growth in R&D activities.
Top countries in Number of Persons Employed in High- and Medium-High (2-Digit Definition) R&D Intensive Activities Share by Country (Thousand Units (Persons))
| # | 10 Countries | Percent | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 United States | 35.79 | 2023 | +0.67% | +0.94% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Germany | 18.52 | 2023 | +0.84% | +0.99% | View data |
| 3 | 3 South Korea | 11.38 | 2023 | +0.92% | +1% | View data |
| 4 | 4 France | 6.64 | 2023 | +0.49% | +0.73% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Poland | 5.04 | 2023 | +1.76% | +1.74% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Spain | 3.59 | 2023 | +0.59% | +0.32% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Czech Republic | 2.88 | 2023 | +1.49% | +1.43% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Colombia | 2.63 | 2023 | -0.37% | -0.22% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Netherlands | 1.93 | 2023 | +1.12% | +0.8% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Hungary | 1.92 | 2023 | +1.46% | +1.28% | View data |
