Presentation on STEM and Health Care Occupations Available Online
What are STEM occupations, how many exist in Wyoming, and what education is required to fill them?
Manager Tom Gallagher and Workforce Information Supervisor Tony Glover of the Research & Planning (R&P) section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services provided answers to these and other questions at Wyoming's STEM and CTE Summit 2012 on February 9, 2012, at Casper College.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) occupations are those that require a high degree of knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of science, technology, mathematics, and analytical reasoning. This diverse group includes occupations such as accountants, civil engineers, dietitians and nutritionists, wind turbine service technicians, and more.
The presentation showed that in 2010, 21,442 STEM occupations accounted for approximately 8% of Wyoming's total employment. R&P's latest occupational projections show 21,442 job openings in STEM occupations with earnings of $50,000 or more1 from 2010 to 2020.
At the request of the organizers of this event, R&P also provided information on health care occupations in Wyoming as a part of this presentation. In 2010, there were 20,077 health care occupations, which made up approximately 7% of Wyoming's total employment. From 2010 to 2020, a projected 20,077 job openings in health care occupations will have annual earnings of $50,000.
The presentation also stressed the fact that projections are based on current workforce trends, and cannot account for demographic and social shocks caused by the aging baby boom generation, substantial federal investments and initiatives, and technological changes in health care and technology.
R&P's presentation on STEM occupations can be found online at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/presentations.htm.