STEM Education and Why It’s Important: Why We Need More Americans Pursuing STEM Careers
In the last ten years, there has been three times as much growth in STEM jobs than in non-stem jobs. Individuals with STEM careers are less likely to be unemployed and bring in an average of 26% more income than their non-STEM counterparts. This makes STEM jobs appealing for aspiring students, yet there’s still a great need for students in the United States to invest in their STEM-powered futures.
More STEM Jobs Than Qualified Workers
The United States has a problem: there are more STEM jobs than there are students entering into college programs for STEM-related fields. In fact, a minuscule 20% of high school graduates are prepared for college-level coursework in a STEM major.
In the last fifteen years, the US has only supplied 10% of the world’s science and engineering graduates, putting our country far behind others in STEM learning. The following are three factors that contribute to the lack of American students pursuing STEM careers:
1. There’s a lack of diversity in the American STEM workforce.
While black workers make up 11% of the US workforce, they only represent 9% of STEM workers. Latinos make up 16% of the workforce but only 7% of all STEM workers. These are two of the many statistics that paint a grim picture for America’s diversity in STEM careers.
Lack of diversity isn’t only an issue of race, either. Two out of three women report that they were never encouraged to enter a STEM field. As recently as 2019, they only make up 19% of the STEM workforce, despite the fact they make up half of the college graduates in the US.
2. There’s a wage disparity problem in America’s STEM careers.
A report published by Pew Research had some alarming findings about the wage disparity in United States STEM careers:
Women in STEM make on average 74% as much as men, a wider pay gap than in the broader labor market (80%).
Black full-time workers make on average 78% as much as white workers in STEM, an increase in the gap since 2016 (when it was 81%).
Hispanic and Latino workers make on average 83% as much as white workers, an increase in the gap since 2016 (when it was 85%).
Despite having the same qualifications, minorities are suffering in STEM-related careers. This only works to further alienate women and racial minorities from pursuing careers in STEM.
3. Students aren’t as interested in STEM careers because they believe it’s too hard.
One study discovered that roughly 40% of students in engineering and science majors ended up switching to other majors or dropping out of college. That’s nearly twice as high as the attrition rate of any other degree program.
Another study asked adults why they thought students weren’t enrolling in STEM programs, and 52% of responders said it was because they think the subjects are too hard. Because K-12 schools fail to focus on STEM early on and often, many students grow up thinking STEM careers are out of reach.
Building Tomorrow’s STEM Workforce
K-12 educators are in a particularly special place that allows them to powerfully shape tomorrow’s STEM workforce. Whether they teach elementary school or high school seniors, K-12 teachers can lay the groundwork that helps address today’s STEM worker shortage.
The following are a few of the ways K-12 teachers can combat the lack of diversity in STEM careers while providing all students with the push they need to invest in STEM education:
1. Encourage girls and racial minorities to enter STEM education.
There are too many voices telling girls and racial minorities that they aren’t needed for STEM careers. As a teacher, you’re uniquely positioned to encourage students of all genders and racial backgrounds to follow their dreams and pursue STEM careers.
Invite diverse STEM leaders to come share with your students. When young people see someone like them working in a STEM career, they will feel empowered to pursue the same. One study found that 63% of girls who know women in STEM feel empowered doing STEM learning.
2. Use STEM learning principles to give your students a head start in STEM education.
Take steps to equip your students for future STEM learning. Encourage independent thinking to help your students learn concepts instead of facts alone. Engage your students with active learning principles to help them fall in love with learning. Throughout your lessons, make an effort to teach your students workplace skills that will serve them in a STEM-powered future.
Students are less likely to think STEM education is too hard when someone invests in their STEM education early on. By showing students that a STEM career is within their grasp, you are building the next generation of STEM leaders.
3. Encourage students by showing them how much financial aid is available for STEM students.
Some students avoid entering STEM programs because they think college is out of their financial reach. However, there are loads of STEM scholarships available for students from a wide variety of backgrounds.
If you have students who are struggling with the financial cost of college education, encourage them to look into their financial aid options. STEM careers don’t need to be out of any student’s reach, especially if they have the academic skills to move them forward in STEM education.
Final Thoughts
Careers in STEM are increasing at a higher rate than non-STEM careers. Despite the increase in demand, there are still fewer STEM students than needed to fill the projected needs in the US workforce. Students may be discouraged by a lack of diversity in STEM (and the accompanying pay gaps). They may also struggle with feeling like STEM education is too difficult.
While teachers can’t directly fix the lack of diversity and the pay disparities, they can help prepare students for STEM-powered careers. Teachers equip students for a STEM-powered future by teaching STEM learning principles early on, connecting students with mentors in STEM careers, and helping students tackle roadblocks.
