More members of racial and ethnic-minority groups1 have entered the psychology workforce2 in recent years. These new entrants to the field tend to be younger than non-minority psychologists.
From 2005 to 2013, the proportion of minorities in the U.S. psychology workforce grew from 9 percent to 16 percent.3
In the period 2011–13,4 the racial/ethnic minority composition of the workforce was 4 percent Asian, 4 percent Black/African American, 5 percent Hispanic and 2 percent other non-White groups.5
- The mean age of minority psychologists was 47, a level significantly6 lower than White psychologists, whose average age was 51.
- Asian psychologists (average age 46) were approximately 5 years younger than White psychologists.
- Black/African American psychologists (average age 48) were approximately 3 years younger than White psychologists.
- Hispanic psychologists (average age 46) were approximately 5 years younger than White psychologists.
— Luona Lin, MPP, Karen Stamm, PhD, and Peggy Christidis, PhD
For more information, contact APA's Center for Workforce Studies.
1Includes Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic, and other non-White racial/ethnic groups. Labels for racial/ethnic groups are those used in the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
2Includes individuals active in the labor force (not enrolled in school and not retired or semi-retired) with an occupation of psychologist and a doctoral or professional degree.
3U.S. Census Bureau. (2005–13). American Community Survey 1-Year Public Use Microdata Sample files. Retrieved from www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/pums_data.opens in new window
4Three one-year files (2011, 2012 and 2013) were collapsed to allow for larger sample size.
5Totals do not sum to 16 percent due to rounding.
6All age comparisons were statistically significant at p < .05.