The latest edition of an annual survey on science education concludes that American companies are reporting a lack of qualified candidates to fill a growing number of jobs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, fields.
Bayer’s Facts of Science Education survey, conducted since 1995, asked 150 talent recruiters from Fortune 1000 Companies if a shortage of STEM candidates exists.
The survey found that more STEM jobs are being created today than non-STEM jobs, regardless of whether or not the company has a STEM focus, and respondents predicted that trend would hold 10 years from now. Fortune 1000 companies also said they prefer to hire STEM-degree graduates, even for those jobs traditionally considered non-STEM. However, only half the companies polled said they are able to find adequate numbers of qualified job candidates.
The new survey follows a recent report from the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute that suggests the shortage is a myth.
