Over the last several decades an increase in educational focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has surfaced across the country. Technological advancements, even in jobs that used to be considered non-technical, like construction, utility infrastructure and manufacturing have increasingly required more STEM skills than previously required. As jobs become more immersed in technological advancements, so too does the need for workers to have these skills within these professions.
STEM careers are expected to play a significant role in driving growth across industries as we look to the future. According to a Pew Research analysis of data of job market trends provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM occupations is up 79% over the past three decades and is expected to rise 23% before the end of this decade.
However, despite the focus in educational programming on STEM skills, Bridget Long, dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has reported that only 20 percent of high school graduates are prepared for college-level coursework in STEM majors. This represents a significant gap that must be bridged in order to ensure a competent workforce capable of tackling the complex challenges of the next three decades and beyond.
STEM skills like subject proficiency and application, critical thinking, creative problem solving, hands-on learning, collaboration and teamwork are essential to fill significant roles in a world driven by modern technology. Each of these attributes plays an integral role in developing well-rounded individuals capable of adapting to innovations and solving complex problems that are essential in navigating the 21st century workforce.
One of the most effective ways to bring students up to speed is by actively promoting career pathways in STEM fields that introduce students to concepts early, get them engaged, and build upon essential STEM skills throughout their educational journeys. Through these structured trajectories, students obtain education and training that develops their skills along a clear roadmap for career progression, leading to better career outcomes.
National STEM Day – November 8th
National STEM Day is celebrated annually on November 8th in the United States, and it’s a great day to learn more about developing career pathways that will ensure a bright future for local and global communities alike. The month of November is also Career Development month, with an emphasis on developing pathways for young people to find fulfilling careers in our modern workforce. Cities and municipalities all over the country host STEM career fairs and expos, workshops and seminars, and school projects that promote awareness and appreciation of the importance of STEM learning and the pursuit of STEM careers.
Why STEM Careers Matter for the Future Workforce
There has never been a greater diversity in STEM careers available to recent college graduates. As technological advancements continue to shape the future of industries from energy to healthcare, the need for a qualified STEM-educated workforce capable of adapting, innovating, and taking on complex challenges is rapidly expanding.
Energy and water utilities, for example, need qualified engineers, computer technicians, statisticians, and research and development professionals as well as infrastructure technicians and manufacturers that will support the energy transition and water conservation needs.
Careers in IT, finance, healthcare and medicine require these same skills. Do a quick internet search and you will be amazed at how many fields now require STEM skills to be successful. Even occupations that have traditionally been viewed by students as ones that do not require STEM skills, such as pipefitters, technicians, and construction workers, rely increasingly on more complex use of STEM skills to build and update infrastructure, electrical grids, wind and solar farms, and water systems that are more effective and efficient. Educating students on the available career pathways that require STEM skills and provide clear trajectories is essential in filling the growing number of important roles developing across industries.
Understanding the Demand for STEM Professionals
There are a myriad of reasons companies rely upon strong STEM workforce development programs in their communities. The growing demand for STEM related jobs is happening alongside lower birth rates, lower college and university enrollment, and a wave of retirements coming from our aging population. These factors are hitting some industries faster than others, requiring more robust recruitment strategies and systems to meet the need, including STEM career pathways. Some industries offering increased opportunities for STEM professionals include:
- Energy Utilities
- Water Utilities
- Technology and Information Technology (IT)
- Healthcare and Biotechnology
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Finance and Data Analytics
- Education
- Environmental Science and Renewable Energy
- Telecommunications
Early Exposure to STEM and Its Long Term Benefits
The earlier students are introduced to STEM concepts and learning with programs that promote STEM in schools, the more likely they will be prepared to enter STEM careers. A study by the International Journal of STEM Education found that early interest in STEM topics is an excellent predictor for later learning and eventual career interests and choice.
In general, many experts agree that elementary school is the most important time to begin the STEM journey to promote students adopting STEM field studies in college or entering other internships or training programs that require STEM skills. By grade 8 and beyond, it is far more difficult to engage students with STEM subjects and learning because they have already self-selected out of STEM studies. If the goal is to increase the number of students pursuing STEM careers, whether through traditional college courses or through training or internship programs, it is important to illuminate the importance of this study early on. If these programs are only focused on high school and beyond many students will become unreachable. By starting early, they are more likely to pursue STEM majors in college or enter STEM fields upon high school graduation.
Improving access to STEM education benefits companies by opening up a stronger pipeline to fill important roles that require proficiency in STEM subjects, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and mastery of other STEM skills. Businesses will not be able to adapt and thrive in the modern era without this well-trained workforce. With STEM job growth progressing at a rate far higher than students pursuing STEM majors or building STEM skills in other workforce development programs, employers must take steps to partner with the community in creating awareness of STEM career pathways and the real opportunities available for filling important roles, if they want access to a capable talent pool.
Access to Qualified Talent Pools
With more STEM career opportunities available than ever before, the lack of students entering the workforce prepared to fill these roles is alarming. Promoting STEM career exploration early on, can help drive participation in STEM majors, STEM related internship programs, and job training programs that require STEM proficiency, and greatly improve the talent pool available to employers.
Surviving the Silver Tsunami
Further complicating the talent pool gap, is what some employment experts dub the silver tsunami. The pinnacle of this workforce shift hits as the largest segments of the baby boomer population continue to reach retirement age. This wave is so large, that 50 percent of the utilities workforce is set to retire over the next decade. This means that there are even more potential employment openings just as less young people are qualified to fill them, adding urgency to the development of a strong pool of qualified workers. This mass retirement also means that on-the-job knowledge that is held by these retiring workers is also being lost. Adding still more urgency to filling the STEM career pipeline in more diverse and robust ways.
Sustainable Preparation for the Future
Most workforce development programs are directed at high school graduates and college-aged students. This may provide short-term relief, but for a sustainable solution, a longer view, including investment in elementary and middle school career pathway programs that prepare students earlier on. Career pathways is a long-term, sustainable solution that has been proven to deliver. Opening students’ eyes to the opportunities present in STEM fields at a young age can ensure that there are enough skilled workers to meet the growing industry demands.
How Multi-Tiered Programs Build Interest in STEM
Engaging students in multi-tiered STEM programs that utilize a range of diverse approaches introduced in appropriate intervals is one of the most effective ways to introduce them to the material in a way that sticks and drives future engagement. Not all students learn in the same way, meaning that presenting information in a number of ways ensures that information reaches all students and is reinforced in a range of ways, something that hits at the heart of STEM programming.
Early Exposure
Introducing information while the learner is still young is one of the best ways to ensure lessons lead to knowledge down the road. Research on neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, suggests that early childhood is one of the developmental stages when our brains are most receptive to learning new skills and information. It also shows students that would otherwise self-select out of STEM learning that they can succeed in becoming proficient.
Curriculum Integration
STEM curricula integration into broader subjects allows students to see real-world applications to the learning taking place. Working on collaborative projects that require critical thinking and creativity enhances a student’s problem-solving skills while opening them up to the concepts practiced in STEM programs.
Mentorship and Role Modeling
In addition to sharing the learning experience with their peers, students are introduced to mentors and role models who provide guidance and inspiration, helping them to envision potential career paths. Students cannot be what they cannot see. Showing them, through STEM educational outreach programming, allows them to see and pursue real opportunities. Working with diverse mentorship programs also encourages students from underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers.
Hands-On Learning Experiences
One of the things that make STEM curricula so powerful is its focus on hands-on learning. Students see the applications and experience the satisfaction of solving problems through conducting experiments, engaging in field studies, and participating in simulations that deepen their understanding of STEM concepts and processes.
Community Involvement
STEM education does not end in the classroom. The life skills obtained through STEM programs provide real-world benefits. Collaborating with local businesses, universities, organizations, and the students’ families provide supplemental resources, expertise, and funding that greatly enhance the power of STEM programming.
Pathways to Work
As students get older, providing information sessions about available STEM educational opportunities and careers help them make informed decisions about their future. STEM demonstrations for students illustrate the ways STEM can positively impact our communities and society at large. It allows them to make meaningful choices about how they want to use their skill sets.
Live Demonstrations and Hands-On Learning
Even with early STEM exposure, students require instructional methods that connect with them on a personal level. This not only helps them absorb and retain the information being taught, but it also instills in them the drive to continue blazing forward. Few methods are as powerful as live demonstrations and hands-on learning.
Access for All
One of the barriers faced by students who want to get into STEM career pathways is inclusivity. Not all students have the same life experiences, and many learn in different ways. By presenting the material in ways that are accessible to all students, we can successfully boost interest in underrepresented groups.
Partnering with Organizations Like NTC
Overcoming barriers in STEM education and building a more robust workforce development system, requires more than traditional workforce development programs. Sponsoring programs that specialize in interactive STEM events that build STEM career pathways awareness and shows where these pathways can lead, helps ensure that organizations have access to the skilled workforces they need now and into the future. There are a couple options, designed to tackle both immediate staffing concerns and creating a sustainable pipeline of qualified job applicants ready to fill the roles of the future.
To combat the immediate STEM talent pool crisis, NTC has developed high school programming that centers on green careers in STEM industries, offering utilities and other companies the opportunity to recruit and inspire their future workforce. NTC also has developed programs that give younger students a foundation that can enhance their future success and the success of sponsoring organizations.
By introducing students to STEM concepts and developing skills early on, they can be more fully prepared for college-level coursework or to enter career training programs or internships when they complete high school. Building this pipeline from elementary school through middle school and into high school is a far more robust system that can improve the likelihood of students choosing STEM careers as adults and filling the growing number of STEM jobs.
Reach out to NTC to learn how your organization can help provide both the education and support networks the youth in your community needs to become valuable employees in your industry, tomorrow and beyond.
