Today we (the Economics and Statistics Administration here at the Commerce Department) released a report [1] highlighting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers who drive our nation’s innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas, new companies and new industries. (It’s only a coincidence that we are releasing this report a week before the Comic Con convention).
This report is pretty cool in that it documents the growth and outlook of STEM jobs and profiles STEM workers, quantifying a bunch of things you might already suspect. For instance:
- Over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times faster than growth in non-STEM jobs.
- STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17.0 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8-percent growth for non-STEM occupations.
- STEM workers earn about 25 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts.
- STEM workers are less likely to experience joblessness than their non-STEM counterparts.
- In 2010, there were 7.6 million STEM workers in the United States, representing about 1 in 18 workers.
- More than two-thirds of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to less than one-third of non-STEM workers.
- STEM degree holders command higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations.
As you can see, the report makes some pretty interesting reading. I’m taking it to the beach this weekend and so should you.
STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future is here [1].
~Mark Doms, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Commerce
July 14, 2011
Are you on Twitter? We are! Follow us at ESAGov [2] for updates!
