STEM – which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math – is a seriously hot topic in modern education. It’s one of the fastest growing sectors around, and involves a lot of key skills our kids need to become happy, healthy adults. We’ve put together a few of the latest education statistics and trends to get you up to speed on STEM in 2023.

STEM in Education Statistics

• Students in the US are becoming more proficient in STEM. Of the 64 countries that participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in both 2015 and 2018, US students ranked 30th in math (up from 35th in 2015) and 11thin science (up from 17th in 2015) (via U.S. News & World Report)
• Preschool-age children engage in mathematical thinking at least once in every 30 seconds of free play (U.S. Department of Education)
• 17% of K-3 classrooms study science “all or most days of the week”. This increases to 35% for grades 4-6 (Horizon Research, Inc)
• Nationwide, 47% of high schools teach foundational computer science (Code.org Advocacy Coalition)
• 80% of students say their knowledge of STEM careers increased because of afterschool STEM programs (STEM Ready America)

Careers in STEM Statistics

• The average annual salary of a STEM workers in the US is around $64,000, 60% higher than the average of $40,000 earned in non-STEM careers (National Science Foundation)
• STEM occupations are projected to grow 10.8% from 2021 to 2031, compared to 4.9% growth in all other careers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Employment in STEM has grown 79% since 1990, increasing from 9.7m to 17.3m (Pew Research Center)
• In the next 10 years, it’s estimated that there will be more than 921,300 opening for STEM jobs (SmartAsset)

Diversity in STEM Statistics

• The gender diversity gap in STEM is closing. Women make up 35% of the STEM workforce (National Science Foundation), up from 25% in 2011 (U.S. Department of Commerce)
• 74% of middle school girls express an interest in STEM (National Girls Collaborative Project)
• Moms talking to their daughters about STEM is associated with girls being +20 points more interested in STEM (National Science Foundation)
• Just 31% of women with a STEM Bachelor’s degree entered STEM occupations (Society of Women Engineers)
• Underrepresented minorities (Hispanic, Black, American Indian, Alaskan native) make up 24% of the STEM workforce, up from 18% in 2011 (National Science Foundation)
• 40% of Black students and 37% of Latino students switch out of STEM majors before earning a degree, compared to 29% of white students. This is attributed to feelings of exclusion. So it’s important that we welcome all learners into STEM education (Education Advisor Board)

Support Your Kids with STEAM Learning Kits

Helping your kids master STEM subjects early gives them a valuable head start in their academic and personal growth. Here at STEAMbright, we like to take it one step further by adding art into the mix, turning STEM learning into STEAM learning. That way, kids can also develop creative thinking and problem solving skills that give them the tools they need to thrive in later life.

We offer a wide range of STEAM learning kits for ages 3-18 to provide exciting hands-on activities that help kids learn about the world around them. Each one delivers exciting experiential learning that fits perfectly into playtime or a homeschool curriculum. Visit our online store to pick out a super-fun STEAM learning kit that your kids will adore!