Workforce Data

Careers in Engineering, Science and Technology (STEM)

Working in a STEM field requires rigorous work ethic and the ability to communicate ideas clearly, think creatively, and work with a team. To succeed, individuals who pursue STEM careers need to be dedicated, curious, organized, detail-oriented, and have good time management skills.

But as seen, the careers in engineering, science and technology are unlimited. The STEM field itself covers so much area, that if you don't find that one area that is not interesting, there are many others that you may be interested in. I found through schooling that the interest in STEM will highly diminish based on boredom, complexity and pure disinterest due to students not realizing what these fields can bring them in the future. They don't like math, science or special technology courses because it's hard. However, what they aren't learning is 'how' these course can lead to great careers that are fun and so rewarding!

Let me just show some data that reveals only a fraction what jobs could be available through some type of STEM education. I want to make that a point again; that STEM is so broad that there student just don't realize what could be ahead them in life. They just need to get taught that.

This data from the US Department of Labor shows the wealth of careers in STEM:

https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm

Projected job openings for types of STEM occupations

Job openings show the combination of new jobs and jobs expected to result from workers permanently leaving occupations and needing to be replaced. While the computer occupational group is projected to yield over 1 million job openings from 2014 to 2024, even the smallest number of job openings are still projected high in the architects, surveyors, and cartographers group, at 52,500 projected openings.

• In 2018, there were 5.7 million total postings in STEM fields. Of those, 76%, or 4.4 million, require at least a bachelor’s degree, and 41%, or 2.3 million, are entry-level jobs requiring less than 2 years of experience.
• 48% of all entry-level jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher (BA+) are in STEM fields, while only 29% of bachelor’s degree graduates earn a STEM degree. At the sub-baccalaureate level (Sub-BA), 24% of entry-level jobs are in STEM fields, while 32% of Sub-BA degrees are in STEM concentrations.
• There are 2.5 entry-level job postings for each new 4-year graduate in STEM fields compared to 1.1 postings for each new BA graduate in non-STEM fields.
• STEM careers offer a substantial information technology salary premium. The average advertised salary for entry-level STEM jobs requiring a BA or higher is $66,123 compared to $52,299 for non-STEM jobs. This difference of approximately $14,000 represents a 26% premium. At the Sub-BA level, the average advertised entry-level salary is $47,856 for STEM jobs and $37,424 for non-STEM careers. This difference of over $10,000 represents a 28% premium.

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/imt/2013/07/10/stem-among-fastest-growing-occupations-by-2020-with-highest-demand-for-education/

There are over 1,000 STEM related jobs throughout the broad area of science, engineering and technology. In turn, just basic positions such as surveyors, drafters, auditors, etc. have some form of basic math skills. Here are just some of the positions:

While the nation will gain 55 million new job openings by 2020, most of the fastest growing occupations - including those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields -will require more than just a high school diploma. However, at the current college graduation rate, U.S. employers will face some serious staffing challenges ahead; the country will fall short by 5 million workers with post-secondary education by 2020, according to a recent report by Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. The projected 55 million new job openings will come from a combination of baby boomer positions left open by retirees (31 million openings) and newly created jobs (24 million openings), according to the report findings.

Growth in STEM occupations will accelerate significantly - by 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, with 2.6 million job vacancies. Almost all STEM occupations have the highest demand (95 percent) for post-secondary education and training. Nationwide, 65 percent of all job vacancies will require at least some post-secondary education and training. Since the recession, the highest job-growth rate has been for individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher.

The fastest growing industries will be in the private education services, which will expand by 28 percent, from 2010 to 2020, and healthcare services, which will create more than 4 million new jobs during that time period. Manufacturing, however, will see the slowest growth rate during that time - with just 420,000 new jobs, created at a 4 percent increase.

What Post-Secondary Education Will Job Hopefuls Need?

The Georgetown University report reflects a significant change in educational requirements over the past several decades. Whereas 28 percent of all jobs required a post-secondary education in 1973, 65 percent of all jobs will require it by 2020. The educational requirements for jobs will vary from some college experience to a master's degree or higher.

A closer look at the breakdown of degrees shows that of the 164 million people to be employed by 2020, 24 percent will require a bachelor's degree (compared to 21 percent in 2010), and 11 percent will require a master's degree or better.

Here are the report's findings on education required for jobs in 2020:

• 6.6 million (or 12 percent of all jobs) will need less than high school education
• 13.2 million (24 percent) will need only a high school diploma
• 9.8 million (18 percent) will need some college experience (no degree)
• 6.6 million (12 percent) will require an associate degree
• 13.2 million (24 percent) will require a bachelor's degree
• 6.0 million, (11 percent) will require a master's degree or better.

Tracking the Education Requirements for Workers in the U.S.

Employers will have better luck finding workers with post-secondary education that have training in other areas like in STEM Education Learning Centers, Science and Technology Centers/Museums, Interactive Technology Workshops for Professionals, Training Centers for Core Trades such as electricians, plumbers, etc. The extension of other means of education outside traditional colleges are critical to match the growth and expectations of skills in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

STEM is important. STEM is an economic driver. STEM presents opportunity. There needs to be way more people ready to meet such opportunity.

The fix, of course, is not easy. I’m not the first to talk about it, nor will I be the last. There are many people talking about it, and others working to do something about it.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the fact that we sell summer STEM camps; programs that aren’t inexpensive at that, due to our prestigious university locations, world-class staff, and premium tech tools we feature. To better serve a wider breadth of families, we reserve 10%, or 7,000 of our seats for underprivileged students.

To end, and not to oversimplify it, STEM needs to be where the kids are. In school, after-school; during the summer, and in our local communities, introduced at a young age when they are most curious. Kids need STEM mentors and role models to look up to. They need more education about STEM degrees and related jobs so they can look forward to bright futures in these fields. The Powerhouse Science Center is Sacramento is a prime example of how STEM can create a world of interest to kids, teens and adults of all backgrounds. One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to understand the beauty that science and technology brings to the world. To be able to work in this area is fun, creative, imaginative and so rewarding. Teachers need to teach this way and these science centers do just that! https://powerhousesc.org/

STEM needs to be the sport your child is playing, the show they are watching, and the hero they are emulating. It’s not that kids don’t have the time or capacity to “fit in” STEM, but rather that time needs to be reshaped to include STEM.