The push for STEM jobs...

[MSNDIS]

<p>Did any of you notice that the chart was put together by an online engineering school? I was already skeptical of the “facts” listed on the document but after seeing the source I realized it wants us to believe there is a crisis (which doesn’t actually exist) so students will think they’ll have great job prospects if they go into a STEM field.</p>

<p>I live in Washington State and there is a big push here to get more STEM degrees but there are limited spots in the degree programs at the University of Washington. Only about 50% of the engineering and computer science applicants make it into the program and it’s not like the rejects aren’t qualified–there are too few spaces to take them all. In addition, the job market is not ready for a slew of engineers and/or computer programmers. It is already saturated.</p>

[RacinReaver]

<p>

I also just noticed how the more STEM education you have, the less likely you are to make more than the average for your education level. Does this confirm the idea of “overqualified” job applicants?

</p>

<p>In engineering a PhD isn’t seen as a “money” degree. It’s more of a degree that opens up doors to different jobs that aren’t there when you have a BS or MS.</p>

[terenc]

<p>

In addition, the job market is not ready for a slew of engineers and/or computer programmers. It is already saturated.

This is not entirely true. Demand (and future demand) for computer engineers outstrips supply.</p>

<p>

Also the suggestion that one should go to grad school in STEM is a terrible one. There are droves and droves of science PhD’s working endless post-docs because there are no jobs for them. The only way to make a decent living in STEM is with a professional degree or an unrelated graduate degree like business. A science graduate degree is just digging the hole deeper.

No, it is not. A PhD is not the only option, and is in fact probably only an option if you want to go to academia or do high-level research for R&D-centric companies (pharmaceuticals). There’s med school, dental school, pharmacy school, getting an engineering master’s (i.e. chem -> chemical eng), getting a normal masters, and other options. (Professional school = graduate school).</p>

[sschoe2]

<p>[Abbott</a> HR chief says Americans need to study math and science if they want him to hire them | Business | TIME.com](<a href=“http://business.time.com/2009/10/15/american-college-grads-homebodies-with-worthless-degrees/]Abbott”>Abbott HR chief says Americans need to study math and science if they want him to hire them | TIME.com)</p>

<p>

I had a somewhat disturbing conversation yesterday with Steve Fussell, the senior VP of human resources at pharmaceutical maker Abbott. His basic message, which I may pursue in a column down the road, was that Abbott is going to be hiring tons of people for high-paying jobs over the next decade, but not many of them will be Americans because we study the wrong things in college and we’re not willing to work overseas.</p>

<p>The key quotes:</p>

<p>1) “I hate to say we don’t have the world’s best universities. We may have the best minds, the best liberal arts education. The problem is it doesn’t match the work anymore.” (That is to say, not enough students are getting science and math degrees.)</p>

<p>2) “I don’t have these graduates in Europe and Asia telling us they want to live with mom and dad or they don’t want to relocate to Asia.”</p>

<p>Read more: [Abbott</a> HR chief says Americans need to study math and science if they want him to hire them | Business | TIME.com](<a href=“http://business.time.com/2009/10/15/american-college-grads-homebodies-with-worthless-degrees/#ixzz24tWV7ygB]Abbott”>Abbott HR chief says Americans need to study math and science if they want him to hire them | TIME.com)

</p>

<p>This tripe is just very pervasive. The sad thing is Abbott Labs is notorious in my area (n. Chicago) for treating their science staff like trash and keeping them as permatmps. They make the case for avoiding majoring in science. I wouldn’t want to work for them and I have to screen my calls because I get recruiters calling me like crazy asking me to work for Abbott on contract with no benefits and crap wages. </p>

<p>If this guy is as clueless as he sounds it is no wonder he works in HR.</p>

[GLOBALTRAVELER]

<p>

Only about 50% of the engineering and computer science applicants make it into the program and it’s not like the rejects aren’t qualified–there are too few spaces to take them all. In addition, the job market is not ready for a slew of engineers and/or computer programmers. It is already saturated.

</p>

<p>Saturated where???</p>

<p>Both my B.S. and M.S. degrees are not in pure computer science and I still have maintained a long software engineering career. Still get recruiter calls everyday.</p>

[JeSuis]

<p>“After health care, STEM is the fastest growing sector of the economy.”</p>

<p>Just wondering, why aren’t health care careers classified under STEM?</p>

[Scientificmind]

<p>A health care professional doesn’t need a stem degree. It’s also not a major. It’s a professional specialization. Yes, you do need some science pre-requisites, but thats about it.</p>