Future STEM Career Opportunities Dr. Peter Rochford Computational Physics, Inc. 8001 Braddock Rd Suite 210 Springfield, VA 22151 703-764-7501 [email protected] www.cpi.com 5/30/2012

tjSTAR STEM Careers Presentation

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Why listen to me? Personal Experience • Have a Ph.D. in Theoretical Nuclear Physics • Have walked path of higher education: Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Doctoral degree • Have lived and worked in many places • Have experienced career decisions you are facing Professional Experience • Have more than 20 years of experience working in STEM fields • Recruit new employees for STEM jobs for a small business • Have researched employment trends • Know first hand the current job market 5/30/2012

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What are STEM careers? Careers that make use of: S – Science: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Geosciences, Physics, Computer Science, Atmospheric Sciences, Neurobiology, Nuclear Physics T – Technology: Bioinformatics, Geographic Information Systems, Nanotechnology, Robotics E – Engineering: Acoustical, Aerospace, Biomechanics, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical M – Math: Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Mathematical Biology, Operations Research, Statistics 5/30/2012

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What are STEM Occupations? Science: Scientists design experiments to find out how things work. They conduct experiments, analyze the results, and explain what the results mean. They use scientific methods to learn about the world. Technology: Any occupation that requires technical skill, but it usually refers to information technology or computerrelated occupations. Some technology workers create new software, design computer systems, and develop databases. Others focus on helping people use computers and on keeping computers running well. 5/30/2012

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What are STEM Occupations? Engineering: Engineers use science to solve practical problems. They design, develop, and test new products, such as computers, machines, and chemical fertilizers. They also design, develop, and maintain systems, including assembly lines and electric power grids. Math: Many occupations use mathematics. • Actuaries analyze statistical information to determine the risk of uncertain future events, such as hurricanes or automobile collisions. • Mathematicians develop new mathematical theories and tools to solve problems. • Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data. 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? Good Employment Prospects Group

Unemployment Rate

Date

18- to 24-year-olds

16.3%

Dec. 20111

Adults under 64

8.8%

Dec. 20111

No High School diploma

14.3%

Aug. 20112

High School diploma

9.6%

Aug. 20112

Associate’s Degree (2 year college)

8.2%

Aug. 20112

Bachelor’s Degree or higher

4.3%

Aug. 20112

Non-STEM

10%

20103

STEM

5.3%

20103

1) Paul Taylor et al., Young, Unemployed and Optimistic, Pew Research Center, February 9, 2012 2) Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t04.htm 3) STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future , U.S. Dept. of Commerce, July 2011 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? Unemployment Rates in STEM and Non-STEM Occupations 1994-2010

Source: STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future , U.S. Dept. of Commerce, July 2011 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? STEM jobs are an increasing share of all jobs in the U.S. economy

Source: Anthony P. Carnevale, Nicole Smith, and Michelle Melton, STEM, Georgetown University, Center on Education and the Workforce, October 20, 2011 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? Recent and Projected Growth in STEM and Non-STEM Employment

Source: STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future , U.S. Dept. of Commerce, July 2011 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? Distribution of all STEM occupations by level of education in 2018

Source: Anthony P. Carnevale, Nicole Smith, and Michelle Melton, STEM, Georgetown University, Center on Education and the Workforce, October 20, 2011 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? More than half the scientists and engineers are older than 40. • Unless the production of Engineering (S&E) degrees increases, the average age of workers with Science & Engineering (S&E) degrees will rise. • The total number of retirements among workers with S&E degrees will increase over the next 20 years. Source: National Science Board. 2010. Science and Engineering Indicators 2010. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation (NSB 10-01). 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? Higher Salaries Average Hourly Earnings of Full-Time Private Wage and Salary Workers in STEM Occupations by Educational Attainment, 2010 Average Hourly Earnings

Group

STEM

Non-STEM

Difference

Percent

High School diploma or less

$24.82

$15.55

$9.27

59.6%

Some college or associate degree

$26.63

$19.02

$7.61

40.0%

Bachelor’s Degree only

$35.81

$28.27

$7.54

26.7%

Graduate Degree

$40.69

$36.22

$4.47

12.3%

“STEM careers are some of the best-paying and have the greatest potential for job growth in the early 21st century.” Source: STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future , U.S. Dept. of Commerce, July 2011 5/30/2012

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Why a STEM career? Job Satisfaction Percentages of people who are satisfied with their job, after graduating in each major. Major

Job Satisfaction

Major

Job Satisfaction

Aerospace Engineering

76.0%

Computer Science

69.9%

Biology

80.7%

Electrical Engineering

75.3%

Chemical Engineering

80.4%

Math

78.9%

Chemistry

78.7%

Mechanical Engineering

81.9%

Civil Engineering

73.9%

Meteorology

72.7%

Computer Engineering

69.1%

Physics

71.5%

Data Source: Job Satisfaction by major, StudentsReviewTM, 5/28/2012, http://www.studentsreview.com/satisfaction_by_major.php3

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Why a STEM career? • STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17.0% from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 % growth for non-STEM occupations. • STEM workers command higher wages, earning 26% more than their non-STEM counterparts. • More than 2/3 of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to less than 1/3 of non-STEM workers. • STEM degree holders enjoy higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations.

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Top STEM Careers

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Most Valuable STEM College Majors Unless you go to a top-20 brand name school, what matters most to employers is your major. 9. Management Information Major (Starting Median Pay for Systems ($51,000) Bachelor’s degree in 2012) 1. Biomedical Engineering ($53,800) 10. Petroleum Engineering ($97,900) 2. Biochemistry ($41,700) 3. Computer Science ($56,600) 11. Applied Mathematics ($52,600) 4. Software Engineering ($54,900) 12. Mathematics ($47,000) 5. Environmental Engineering 13. Construction Management ($51,700) ($50,200) 6. Civil Engineering ($53,100) 14. Finance ($46,500) 7. Geology ($45,300) 15. Physics ($49,800) Data Source: Jenna Goudreau, The 15 most valuable college majors, Forbes, 5/22/2012, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47506977/ns/business-forbes_com/#.T8J_6L8wJTO 5/30/2012

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College Majors with Highest Unemployment Recent college graduates with bachelor’s degrees in the arts, humanities and architecture experienced significantly higher unemployment rates. Major (2012 Unemployment Rate) “People keep 1. Architecture (13.9%) telling kids to 2. Arts (11.1%) study what they 3. Humanities (9.4%) love — but some loves are worth 4. Social Science (8.9%) more than 5. Law and Public Policy (8.1%) others.” “… you should go to school for what you love, but you should understand what you’re getting yourself into” Data Source: Anthony P. Carnevale, Ban Cheah, and Jeff Strohl, Hard Times, Georgetown University, Center on Education and the Workforce, January 4, 2012 5/30/2012

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Why get higher education?

Graduate degrees make a major difference in employment prospects across all majors. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm 5/30/2012

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Why get higher education? Average Annual Earnings for College Graduates and Non-Graduates

Source: EarnMyDegree.com, http://www.earnmydegree.com/online-education/learning-center/education-value.html, Accessed May 27, 2012 5/30/2012

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Why get higher education? Work-Life Earnings for Full-Time Employees (in $ millions)

Source: EarnMyDegree.com, http://www.earnmydegree.com/online-education/learning-center/education-value.html, Accessed May 27, 2012 5/30/2012

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Which Career? Personal Experience • Consider what you are good at • Do career guidance tests (often quite accurate) • Enroll in a generic STEM program your freshman year (leaves options open) • Be open to exploring new subjects • Pursue what really interests you • You can always change majors in college • Know what to do with degree Professional Experience • If you really like what you are doing, you will be successful at it • Always be learning new skills during your career • You will have more than one career • People typically make 3 major career changes during their life! 5/30/2012

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Set A Goal

Success requires having a vision of the goal you want to achieve, making a plan, and then working towards it. 5/30/2012

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Your Future Career

Future Jobs 5/30/2012

STEM Graduates tjSTAR STEM Careers Presentation

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