ABSTRACT

The U.S. faces increasing demand for STEM knowledge, contributing to enhanced products, improved health care, more efficient energy sources, a preserved environment, safeguarded national security, and economic growth. In addition, high-paying occupations increasingly require STEM knowledge, and in non-STEM occupations, workers increasingly need STEM knowledge for workplace success and earn significantly more than those without such knowledge. Community colleges supply a major portion of STEM education to the current and future workforce, and researchers have examined the role of community colleges in preparing current and future workers with for STEM occupations but less so for non-STEM occupations. The current study examined STEM knowledge in non-STEM occupations in the U.S. Using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the findings included 19 major groups of non-STEM occupations and 15 STEM knowledge areas in non-STEM occupations. The study further found higher levels of STEM knowledge associated with higher wages for select areas and, using O*NET benchmark standards, identified the levels of STEM knowledge required in non-STEM occupations.

摘要

美国面临着对 STEM 知识日益增长的需求，这有助于增强产品、改善医疗保健、更高效的能源、保护环境、维护国家安全和经济增长。此外，高薪职业越来越需要 STEM 知识，而在非 STEM 职业中，工人越来越需要 STEM 知识才能在工作场所取得成功，并且比没有这些知识的人赚得更多。社区学院为当前和未来的劳动力提供了 STEM 教育的主要部分，研究人员研究了社区学院在为当前和未来的工人准备 STEM 职业方面的作用，但对非 STEM 职业的准备则较少。目前的研究使用来自职业信息网络 (O*NET) 和美国的数据检查了美国非 STEM 职业中的 STEM 知识 劳工统计局，调查结果包括非 STEM 职业的 19 个主要群体和非 STEM 职业中的 15 个 STEM 知识领域。该研究进一步发现更高水平的 STEM 知识与特定领域的更高工资相关，并使用 O*NET 基准标准确定了非 STEM 职业所需的 STEM 知识水平。