Every day, there are new ideas to create more efficient processes, provide customers with a better experience, and constantly improve the way we work and live. Businesses across industries and individuals all over the world often reap the benefits of the ideas that turn into reality, but none of it would be possible without Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEM/STEAM) education.
Today, November 8, we celebrate National STEM/STEAM Day and all that STEM education has done for the industries it serves. Here’s why it’s worth commemorating:
With more STEM/STEAM education comes more innovation and a brighter future:
Looking back on the last few decades, it’s clear that STEM has changed the way we live. Tesla is changing the auto industry by engineering a way for cars to be safer and more sustainable. Amazon has changed the way we shop by offering a quicker and easier way to distribute goods. Airbnb has expanded the hospitality industry and opened the opportunity for more affordable travel, and Apple has made us more connected than ever before.
None of these innovations would have been possible without science, technology, engineering, or math. STEM/STEAM professionals touch each and every industry and they have an impact on every person in one way or another. Our world has evolved tremendously thanks to the increase in STEM/STEAM education and the people who pursue these careers.
The more schools and parents explore STEM/STEAM education, the more change will be seen. There will be improvements to our economy, the way we live, and the way companies are run that are unimaginable today. Just like the changes we’ve seen so far, it’s likely that students pursuing STEM/STEAM education now, will implement ideas we can only dream of.
Even pursuing STEM education through an associate degree can open up opportunities for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds while avoiding high student loan debt and allow them to enter the workforce and earn a living earlier.
Focusing on hands-on learning allows our students to discover their strengths:
In a traditional core curriculum, you often find students who excel in one subject but have trouble in the rest, which can make them detest going to school.
Rather than trying to fit these students into a mold of what traditional schools deem important, STEM/STEAM education allows students to focus on their strengths and learn in a more hands-on way which can increase engagement and interest in the subject. By working with their hands in addition to learning from a book, students can discover their skills and what they enjoy much earlier in their educational career.
The top innovative companies need to fill their STEM/STEAM jobs – and they are willing to pay:
According to the Smithsonian Science Education Center, in 2018 there were 2.4 million STEM jobs unfilled, but many industries have difficulty finding people with the necessary skills to fill these jobs.
And to top it off, the industry isn’t slowing down. With STEM jobs becoming more and more available as many companies continue to turn to technology, artificial intelligence, and engineering to provide better data, more jobs will need to be filled. In fact, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that STEM jobs will grow at a rate 76% higher than non-STEM jobs.
This job growth is seen among all types of companies. From some of the nation’s most notable companies to small businesses and highly technical software developers, every industry is constantly pushing to find the newest and best solutions and rely on STEM/STEAM careers to do so. The most innovative companies, including GEM, understand that the skilled professionals they hire are at the core of their ability to transform their industry, encourage creativity and offer incredible benefits to their employees. These benefits include continued education, flexibility, and strong relationship-building opportunities amongst the team.
STEM education allows students to focus on their strengths, work with their hands, and innovate to solve problems they see in everyday life. With the demand to collect better data and innovate, those who choose a STEM education and pursue a STEM career will be the catalyst for pushing our society forward.