1. AAS Statistics and the “60% Cohort” Kevin B. Marvel Deputy Executive Officer American Astronomical Society

2. Topics Becoming part of the workforce Trends in employment openings Where do astronomers work? The changing AAS

3. Rule Number 1 Only YOU, the job seeker, is responsible for finding a job, not me, not “the world,” not your mom…YOU! –Resume databases provide a false sense of active searching –Passive application is useless –You must stand out to get hired –Customize everything job by job

4. The AAS is here to help Job Centers at every meeting Career workshops at winter meetings Sessions and speakers on career issues Networking opportunities galore Newsletter articles on employment issues Non-academic career information Advocates on career issues

6. Job Register Statistics

8. Where AAS Members Work

9. The changing AAS - 1973 Initial survey of membership First action by Working Group on the Status of Women in Astronomy, established August 1972 2,800 sample size, 27% response rate Overall female membership was only 8% Evidence for ‘youth peak’ for women Women prize winners and AAS leadership numbers low relative to % membership

10. Demographics - 1973

12. The AAS - 1990 Complete membership survey –Expensive ~ $25,000 in 1990 dollars Response rate good : 42% –Implies reliability of +/- 1.6% Overall female membership increased since 1973 –12.6% vs. 8% More young female members than male –Peak of age distribution ~ 30 vs. 45

13. Demographics – 1990

15. The AAS - 1995 Partial Membership Survey –30% response rate, ~1,000 member sample Overall female membership increased –16.5% vs. 12.6% (1990 Membership Survey) Number of women shows episodic growth –Causes?

16. Demographics - 1995

19. Demographics 2003 Snapshot of AAS membership database as of 6/23/03 Includes all US member types except publisher affiliates: Lifetime, Emeritus, Full, Associate, Junior, Division, Division Affiliates Birth date is optional information provided at time of joining => total sample is 5,962

20. Demographics 2003

22. Demographics - 2003

23. Demographics 2004 Snapshot of membership database last week as of 5/29/04 Includes all US member types except publisher affiliates: Lifetime, Emeritus, Full, Associate, Junior, Division Birth date is optional information provided at time of joining => total sample is 5,312

24. Demographics 2004

25. Conclusions Winter meetings best for job searching Jobs available, slight downturn in JR advertising recently, recovering AAS demographics changing dramatically Overall gender parity in 15 years Ongoing data gathering –Demographics –Job advertisements –Job centers