The U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration recently released a report, STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future (PDF), that profiles U.S. employment in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

This report is based on analysis to date from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey and Current Population Survey that provide new insights into the growing STEM workforce that is central to the U.S. economic vitality. In this report, STEM jobs are defined to include professional and technical support occupations in the fields of computer science, mathematics, engineering, and life and physical sciences.

The following is the Executive Summary of the report presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers drive our nation's innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas, new companies and new industries. However, U.S. businesses frequently voice concerns over the supply and availability of STEM workers. Over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times as fast as growth in non-STEM jobs. STEM workers are also less likely to experience joblessness than their non-STEM counterparts. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy, and are a critical component to helping the U.S. win the future.

• In 2010, there were 7.6 million STEM workers in the United States, representing about 1 in 18 workers.
• STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17.0 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations.
• STEM workers command higher wages, earning 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts.
• More than two-thirds of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to less than one-third of non-STEM workers.
• STEM degree holders enjoy higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations.

Two Appendix Tables are listed at the end of the report:

Appendix Table 1. Detailed STEM occupations and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes
Appendix Table 2. Detailed STEM undergraduate majors.

These two tables provide important information for students and workers to prepare good jobs now and for the future. However, STEM careers are not for everyone. Please note that business, health care and social science occuaptions and majors are not included in this report. If you are not sure what kind of career to pursue, the Job Search Central blog, Resources for Choosing a Satisfying Career, will help you make an important decision in your career development.

You can learn more about STEM occuaptions and other occuaptions from the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2013, which is a publication of the U.S. Department of Labor.

You can also learn more about this career cluster, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, from O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, which provides comprehensive information on key attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations, (O*NET is created for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration by the National Center for O*NET Development).

If you want to learn more about STEM occupations and other occupations, please visit Job Search Central at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.