If you’re a student struggling to choose between studying STEM subjects, non-STEM subjects, or both, this article is for you.
STEM – an abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – is the group of subjects most people regard as better preparation for high paying careers. Students are required to learn about math and science principles and apply them to real-world problems with their research, analysis, and critical thinking skills. With the skill set that comes along with a STEM education and rigorous degree qualifications, educators and business groups advocate for training in STEM subjects more than ever.
But is STEM education overrated?
STEM jobs offer higher pay in general
There is a high demand for qualified STEM candidates in the workforce and their jobs are often highly paid. Compared to an average salary of $55,260 for non-STEM occupations, STEM jobs have an annual mean wage of $100,900. The return on investment for studying STEM subjects seems better since STEM students earn higher salaries than those who graduated from non-STEM majors. For these simple reasons, a STEM education seems like a better bet for earning a high income.
The lack of soft skills and the development of AI
While having a STEM degree might give students a head-start in their careers, this might not be true in ten years.
Contrary to popular belief, the highest skill gap does not lie in coding but in soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and leadership. As workers age and their responsibilities grow, they tend to take on leadership and management roles even if they started out in a STEM occupation. These positions require communication and abstract problem-solving skills that are not the main focus of a STEM degree.
Another reason why a STEM-only education might not offer better career opportunities in the future is the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Employment growth in high-paying jobs has slowed in the recent decade, especially regarding STEM fields. One possible rationale is the advancement in AI technology and robotics that automates a wide range of technically demanding jobs.
If studying STEM subjects isn’t enough to receive better career opportunities, then what will?
Having hard technical skills and other soft skills will be the most important
Even though softs skills are difficult to quantify, they facilitate lifelong learning skills. Workers who received training in soft skills are more productive than those who did not. In other words, workers trained in soft skills have a higher chance to climb the career ladder.
By the time workers reach the age of 40, liberal arts majors catch up with, and even surpass, their peers in STEM fields in terms of average salary. This is because an education in liberal arts focuses on valuable skills such as creative problem-solving, critical thinking across multiple disciplines, and adaptability. They are capable of grasping new skills and adjusting themselves in a constantly changing environment.
In addition, solving large-scale real world issues requires an understanding of humanities. Of course, we need technical experts. But we also need people who are capable of both critically examining an issue in a human context and using their STEM backgrounds to come up with solutions.
Having only hard technical skills will not earn you a high-paying job in the future. Instead, having a broad interest and education provides better career opportunities.
–
The conventional assumption that studying a hard STEM subject offers better career opportunities is misguided. Indeed, studying STEM is the safest bet to get a good starting salary. However, the importance of liberal arts education and soft skills training cannot be underestimated. From a long-term perspective, it is better to train yourself in the STEM fields as well as in soft skills.
I never knew about the fact that STEM subjects don’t always offer better career opportunities. I think this article offers a lot insight about STEM subject. Also this could be very beneficial to a lot of students who are trying to find their career paths.