STEM field to dominate workforce

According to a recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 8.6 million STEM jobs in 2015, making up six percent of U.S. jobs.

The Bureau reports that jobs in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields have an above-average growth nationally. Careers in the field will continuously develop through 2024. STEM jobs grew by 10.5 percent, nearly 817,260 occupations in total compared with 5.2 percent of non-STEM jobs. Moreover, professors from Arizona Western College said the national statistic stands true to local progress. Math and Engineering Chair, Reetika Dhawan said she’s seen an immense growth in students pursuing STEM occupations after college. “In 2016 we has a full classroom,” Dhawan said. “We had a total of fifty students enrolled in the STEM program. Dhawan also said the majority of her students fall under the gender of women. “[A lot of STEM students] are women,” Dhawan said. “I’m really proud of them [because they are so] hardworking.” Science Chair, Dr. Joann Chang said she’s seen a growing STEM industry that locally points to careers in agricultural engineering. “Agriculture is such a major component in our industry here,” Chang said. “The agricultural industry has become very focused on the science component of agriculture.”