Introduction to STEM Statistics
STEM is the interaction between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that results in so much more than each part taken on its own. STEM education has a national and global impact, so let’s review these using key STEM statistics.
When a concept has such a far-reaching impact on our day-to-day lives, it is undeniably important to examine that impact. We’ve combed through the research on STEM in an attempt to better understand the meaning of STEM, how it is impacting the world we live in right now, and what effect it will have on our future.
You can use the STEM statistics below to understand the state of STEM education.
Highlights of STEM Statistics
- STEM jobs are projected to grow 10.8% between 2022 and 2032, almost 4x faster than non-STEM jobs.
- The U.S. will need to fill about 3.5 million jobs by 2025, but 2 million may be unfilled due to a skills gap.
- STEM workers earn more. The median annual wage for all STEM occupations is $97,980 compared with $44,670 for non-STEM jobs.
- Women remain underrepresented in STEM occupations, 65% of those employed in STEM occupations were men and about 35% were women between 2011-2021.
- Minorities also remain underrepresented. Blacks represent 11% of all jobs and 9% of STEM jobs. Hispanics represent 17% of all jobs and only 8% of STEM jobs.
- We may be falling behind in STEM education, only 20% of high school graduates are prepared for college-level coursework in STEM majors.
STEM Employment Statistics
This is a selection of statistics on the ways that STEM is impacting the global workforce as a whole. The general consensus? STEM jobs not only pay better than non-STEM jobs, but are also predicted to become increasingly important to the global economy over time.
- STEM jobs are projected to grow 10.8% between 2022 and 2032, compared to 2.3% in non-STEM jobs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)
