Amid the digital shift, workers want more STEM training

But will non-technical roles be edged out of the job market?

BY Rachel Ranosa 07 Aug 2019

If you could travel back in time to when you were 18, would you still apply for the same college program you picked then?

Given a choice, 68% of respondents said they would specialise in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) discipline instead, according to a recent Randstad US survey.

Three in five workers, on average, believe their company is struggling to fill the talent gap.

“Employees understand the value of STEM talent today; they see their employers on the hunt for that talent and how in demand STEM skills are in the modern workforce,” said Graig Paglieri, group president, Randstad Technologies and Engineering.

And while workers aren’t exactly nervous about the digital shift, many are now starting to realise the need to upskill/reskill:

79% feel ‘equipped’ to deal with digitalisation in their profession
62% want their employers to boost investments in digital upskilling
49% are investing in themselves by learning about artificial intelligence/machine learning on their own

“The survey findings don’t necessarily mean people in non-STEM roles have career regret or think their jobs will be taken over by automation and robots,” Paglieri said. “However, it’s clear most people think having at least some formal STEM education continues to be valuable in today’s job climate.”

Paglieri believes employers will also benefit from developing talent from within their organisation. “Formal education aside, employers who proactively provide upskilling opportunities to their employees will be at a greater advantage long-term than those who do not – honing STEM talent from within can be a great way to close the skills gap many organisations feel right now,” Paglieri said.