KILLEEN — Science, technology, engineering and math fields drive much of the innovation at home and abroad. STEM jobs also earn much more than non-STEM professions without any more schooling than most degrees.
But the U.S. is at a disadvantage in the STEM field when compared to other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries who participate in the global market.
According to a 2012 study by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, the U.S. ranks 23rd among the 34 OECD countries in its share of employed 25- to 34-year-olds. It also showed American 15-year-olds placed 25th in math and 17th in science when they took international standardized tests.
“The U.S. is failing to produce an ample supply of workers to meet the growing needs of both STEM and non-STEM employers,†the report stated.
The growth in STEM-related jobs won’t stop anytime soon.
According to the Department of Commerce, the need for STEM-related professions will grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM jobs between 2008 and 2018.
Evidence of this trend can be seen in Central Texas with a new report by WalletHub.com, in which its economists placed the Austin-Round Rock area as second in the nation for the number of STEM jobs.
WalletHub analyzed the 100 most-populated metro areas in the U.S. and found some other interesting statistics. For instance, Austin ranked No. 7 in the nation for STEM-related employment growth and No. 5 for the largest percentage of STEM workers. Central Texas also ranked No. 13 in the number of job openings per capita for STEM graduates.
A study by the Brookings Institute in July found that such jobs are harder to fill than non-STEM positions, taking an average of 50 days for STEM openings requiring a doctorate, compared to 33 days for non-STEM jobs.
“From hospital technology, to any area of business, people are hiring technology folks,†said Ralph Ford, Central Texas College’s president of Texas operations and online programs. “We’re well aware of that.â€
To help feed the need for STEM jobs in Central Texas, Ford said he and others at CTC are working hard to expand educational opportunities for those interested in STEM fields, especially in the growing field of computer science.