Introduction
STEM businesses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fuel much of California’s economic growth and job creation, but our state is having a difficult time producing enough qualified candidates to fill the high-demand, high-wage positions in many STEM companies. The shortage could be so acute in the coming years, that it may leave many STEM jobs in the state unfilled, which would have a devastating effect on California’s $1.7 trillion economy. While California needs more STEM trained and educated employees, fewer students are enrolling in courses to help them land STEM jobs. In fact, of the 123 STEM occupations requiring a post-secondary education, nearly half will face labor shortages. Lack of STEM talent is not just California’s problem, but also a global challenge. Let’s watch this video clip to hear what the Director of Fast Future Research has to say about STEM jobs. (View 2-minute video.)

 

Discussion
Let’s discuss the video clip and some of the information that narrator Rohit Talwar shared:

• Why are STEM jobs and industries so important? (They are the industries of the future and will drive innovation and economic growth.)
• What are some of the STEM industries mentioned? (Nanotechnology, biotechnology, green technology, new vehicles)
• How did Talwar think we could get students more interested in these industries? (Expose students to new and interesting jobs and people doing those jobs, to bring science to life.)
• Why do you think STEM is important to you and your career success? (STEM jobs and industries help countries create wealth and prosperity for their citizens.)

 

Exercise
You may think you’re not a science, technology, or math person, but think again. You use STEM everyday. It takes STEM skills to use, produce, and maintain cell phones, music, videos, games, sports equipment, buildings, and cars. STEM is everywhere. In addition, STEM industries are researching and developing new products and services. These new products and services, in turn, are creating new STEM jobs and career opportunities. This is happening at the same time as occupations of the past are slowly disappearing. As we move forward in our high-tech economy, almost every high-wage job will require some STEM knowledge and skills. Let’s look at a few futuristic Help Wanted Ads to see what kind of jobs lie ahead and what knowledge and skills these jobs might require.

• Distribute Help Wanted 2020 and review the instructions.
• Give students time to complete the activity.
• Discuss the answers. (Prediction and descriptions are from Converge Magazine.)
  (1. Teleport Specialist, 2. Weather Modification Police Person, 3. Wind Farmer, 4. Alternative Vehicle Developer, 5. Biometric Identification Specialist, 6. Space Architect, 7. Experimental Petrologist, 8. Data Miner)
• Discuss STEM specialties. (Answers on these can vary. Most of them require multiple disciplines and the objective of this exercise is to get students thinking about how they can apply STEM subjects.)

 

Additional Activities
This five-minute video, Top Ten Forecasts, 2010 and Beyond, from the World Future Society, makes predictions about the future and the things we can expect. You can see that according to their forecasts, the futuristic job titles in the Help Wanted 2020 handout should become reality. In addition, almost all their predictions will be products of STEM research and development.

• Introduce STEM Programs at your college.
• Give students information about the next steps they can take to learn more about STEM careers on your campus.

 

Support Resources
Suggest students check out PBS’s STEM Education Resource Center and view the video with Rich Robinson, a young science professor. Robinson shares his introduction to science, and offers interesting insight into science careers. In the student link at StemCareer.Com there are over a dozen STEM career sites, including NASA programs. In addition, these four sites will give students more information about opportunities in STEM ... Tools and Tips to Find Science Jobs, Careers in Information Technology, Engineer Your Life, and How to Succeed in Math. Finally, review the Pathways to Technology site and the Recruitment Toolkit for resources your career center may want to use.