This report focuses on the demographic changes of the nation's psychology workforce between 2007 and 2016, and serves as an update to the 2005-13: Demographics of the U.S. Psychology Workforce report by APA’s Center for Workforce Studies. The report is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the most comprehensive sample available on the United States population.
Major findings include:
The psychology workforce has become younger in recent years . In the earlier part of the decade, the majority of the psychology workforce was made up of baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). However, in recent years, the number of psychologists within the echo boomer generation (those born between 1976 and 2001) has surpassed those within the baby boomer generation. The mean age for psychologists remained relatively stable between 2007 (50.1 years) and 2014 (50.8 years). In 2015, however, there was a decrease in mean age to 48.9 years.
More young women have been entering the psychology workforce . The percent of psychologists who are women increased from 57 percent in 2007 to 65 percent in 2016. Within the psychology workforce, the mean age for women (47.6 years) was almost seven years younger than the mean age for men (54.4 years).
More young, racial/ethnic minority psychologists have been entering the workforce . Racial/ethnic minorities accounted for a small proportion of the psychology workforce (16 percent in 2016). However, between 2007 and 2016, the number of psychologists who were racial/ethnic minorities almost doubled (an increase of 92 percent) and racial/ethnic minority representation of the psychology workforce increased from 9 percent to 16 percent. The percentage of racial/ethnic psychologists was higher among younger psychologists. The mean age for racial/ethnic minority psychologists (44.7 years) was younger than for White psychologists (51.0 years).
Approximately 4,200, or 5 percent of psychologists have disabilities. Between 2007-2016, the percentage of psychologists with disabilities remained stable
For an interactive version of this report, see CWS Data Tool: Demographics of the U.S. Psychology Workforce.
Read the full report (PDF, 493KB).
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). What is APA's definition of "psychologist"? [Online text box]. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/support/about-apa?item=6#answer
Colby, S. L., & Ortman, J. M. (2014). The baby boom cohort in the United States: 2012 to 2060 (Current Population Reports P25-1141).
U.S. Census Bureau. (2007-2016). American Community Survey 1-Year Data Dictionary.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2007-2016). American Community Survey 1-Year PUMS file.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2012-2016). American Community Survey 5-Year Data Dictionary.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2012-2016). American Community Survey 5-Year PUMS file.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2016). 2016 Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing State and Equivalent Shape file. Retrieved from ftp://ftp2.census.gov/geo/tiger/TIGER2016/STATE/
- Appendix A: Technical Documentation (PDF, 125KB)
- Appendix B: Supporting Data for Figures (PDF, 154KB)
- Table 1: Number of Active, Semi-Retired and Retired Psychologists, 2007-16 (PDF, 94KB)
- Table 2: Number of Active Psychologists by State, 2016 (PDF, 50KB)
- Table 3: Age Distribution of Active Psychologists, 2007-16 (PDF, 67KB)
- Table 4: Mean and Median Age of Active Psychologists, 2007-16 (PDF, 64KB)
- Table 5: Number of Active Psychologists by Gender, 2007-16 (PDF, 67KB)
- Table 6: Age Distribution of Active Psychologists by Gender, 2016 (PDF, 65KB)
- Table 7: Number of Active Psychologists by Race/Ethnicity, 2007-16 (PDF, 70KB)
- Table 8: Age Distribution of Active Psychologists by Race/Ethnicity, 2016 (PDF, 68KB)
- Table 9: Number of Active Psychologists by Disability Status, 2007-16 (PDF, 83KB)
- Figure 1: Changes in Active, Retired and Semi-Retired Psychologists, 2007-16 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 2: Distribution of Active Psychologists by State, 2016 (PDF, 141KB)
- Figure 3: Age Distribution of the Active Psychology Workforce, 2007-16 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 4: Mean and Median Age of Active Psychologists, 2007-16 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 5: Age Distribution of Active Psychologists and the U.S. Population, 2016 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 6: Percent of Women in the Active Psychology Workforce, 2007-16 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 7: Age Distribution of Psychologists by Gender, 2016 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 8: Racial/Ethnic Composition of the Psychology Workforce and U.S. Population, 2016 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 9: Number of Racial/Ethnic Minority Active Psychologists, 2007 and 2016 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 10: Age Distribution of Active Psychologists by Race/Ethnicity, 2016 (PDF, 100KB)
- Figure 11: Active Psychologists by Disability Status, 2016 (PDF, 84KB)
- Figure 12: Psychologists by Disability Status, 2007-16 (PDF, 85KB)
Recommended citation: American Psychological Association. (2018). Demographics of the U.S. psychology workforce: Findings from the 2007-16 American Community Survey. Washington, DC: Author.
This report describes research and analysis conducted by staff members of the American Psychological Association’s Center for Workforce Studies. It does not constitute official policy of the American Psychological Association.
The authors thank Jim Diaz-Granados and Howard Kurtzman for valuable input on previous drafts of this report.
Copyright © 2018 by the American Psychological Association. This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without fees or permission provided that acknowledgment is given to the American Psychological Association. This material may not be reprinted or translated without prior permission in writing from the publisher. For permission, contact APA, Rights and Permissions, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242.