Though the reports have become less frantic and frequent recently, it wasn’t so long ago that we were inundated with news about how the U.S. was dangerously falling behind other countries when it came to producing science and technology oriented careers and educating people to fill those jobs. Apparently, all those reports lit a fire across industry and there is actually quite a bit of activity ongoing on the STEM front.

As an example, I recently learned about a site called onlinecollege.org that lists some of the fastest-growing STEM jobs along with advice on the training, skills and experience people need to get those jobs. Interestingly, the site notes that not all STEM jobs are in need of workers and that the “shortage of these [STEM] professionals isn't quite as dire as politicians, pundits and even education experts are making it out to be.”

For those wondering in which direction they should steer their career, knowing what STEM careers are growing fastest can be a helpful, though never definitive guide. According to onlinecollege.org, today’s fastest growing STEM-related jobs are: actuary, biochemist/biophysicist, biomedical engineer, database administrator, environmental scientist or engineer, medical scientist, network or computer systems administrator, pharmacist, and software developer.

See all the information on the fastest-growing STEM jobs.

Elsewhere on the STEM front, STEMConnector, a site that bills itself as the one-stop shop for STEM Information, has released its list of the 100 CEO Leaders in STEM. Among the CEOs listed are a number of names from companies that will be familiar to manufacturing industry professionals who deal with automation hardware and software. Included on the list are:

• Al Bunshaft, president & CEO, Dassault Systemes Americas
• Mac Casper, CEO and president, Thermo Fisher Scientific
• John Chambers, chairman & CEO, Cisco
• Dave Cote, chairman and CEO, Honeywell
• Jim Heppelmann, CEO, PTC
• Linda Parker Hudson, president and CEO, BAE Systems
• Jeffrey Immelt, chairman and CEO, GE
• Eric Spiegel, president and CEO, Siemens Corp.
• Dr. James Truchard, co-founder, president and CEO, National Instruments

To select the recipients of the award, STEMConnector researched more than 300 CEOs. Three key aspects were considered: the CEO’s background and career; the company’s STEM position within the industry; and the company’s specific lines of action around STEM.

“America was built on innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Jim Heppelmann, president and CEO, PTC.  “If we want this country to continue to lead in the 21st century, there’s nothing more important than getting students passionate about careers in science, technology, engineering and math.  It’s an honor to be recognized among those who understand this urgency and are promoting STEM education and career paths within their organizations.” 

Launched in 2011, STEMconnector is working to create a network of STEM stakeholders to  “make things happen.” STEMconnector’s goal is to identify, inform and connect entities working in STEM education and careers to “assess smart STEM investments and results.”

The site features a directory of links to STEM-related government, education and organization resources, as well as state-by-state contacts, and hosts quarterly town hall conference calls each year.