Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
NAICS Code: 541710
BLS projects Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences to grow +8.7% through 2034 - 6.3 points faster than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 89% of them. It is one of the faster-growing industries in the dataset.
Where Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
8.7% Top 11% higher than 89% of 291 industries
Industries, banded by projected growth
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15
Expansion read
Signature: 47.9% mean employer AI exposure across 10 tracked public companies .
Growth is projected above the typical industry, while the public-company sample in this sector is mid-sized - treat the listed firms as illustrative peers rather than a complete employer census.
NAICS 541710 · 866,700 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences.
Public companies near this industry
SEC industry labels matching tokens from Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. 10 companies scored · mean AI exposure 47.9%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Aecom | C |
| Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. | C |
| Icon PLC | C |
| Incyte Corp | C |
| Iqvia Holdings Inc. | C |
| Medpace Holdings, Inc. | C |
| Paychex Inc | C |
| Stantec Inc | C |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (NAICS 541710) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential building construction | 910,500 | +5.0% |
| Couriers and express delivery services | 909,800 | +4.8% |
| Investigation, guard, and armored car services | 868,600 | +4.8% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 866,700 | +8.7% |
| Crop production | 863,900 | +2.0% |
| Clothing and clothing accessories retailers | 841,300 | -2.0% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences?
As of 2024, the Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences industry employs approximately 866,700 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences growing or declining?
The Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences industry is projected to grow by 8.7% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +75,800 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences?
10 tracked public companies whose SEC industry label matches Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. Sample names include Aecom, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Icon PLC. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences industry?
Among 10 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 47.9% (most common grade C). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next under expansion
What to do with this
Use Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences' employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.
- See how public employers in this and other industries rank nationwide by AI displacement risk. Employer AI risk rankings
- Browse individual occupations to see exposure and wage detail below the industry level. Browse all occupations
- Compare this industry's outlook against a specific occupation or employer using the interactive tool. Workforce comparison tool
Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts