Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) jobs have grown in importance in the labor market in recent decades, and they are widely seen as the jobs of the future. Using data from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey, we first investigate the role of employment in STEM occupations when it comes to recent changes in the occupational employment distribution in the U.S. labor market. Next, with data from the High School and Beyond sophomore cohort (Class of 1982) recent midlife follow-up, we investigate the importance of high school students’ mathematics and science coursework, knowledge, and skills for midlife occupations. The Class of 1982 completed high school prior to technological changes altering the demand for labor. We find that individuals who took more advanced levels of high school mathematics coursework enjoyed occupations with a higher percentile rank in the average wage distribution and were more likely to hold STEM-related occupations. Findings suggest that the mathematics coursework enabled workers to adapt and navigate changing labor market demands.

近几十年来，科学、技术、工程和数学 (STEM) 工作在劳动力市场中的重要性日益增强，并且被广泛视为未来的工作。利用美国人口普查和美国社区调查的数据，我们首先调查了近期美国劳动力市场职业就业分布的变化，STEM职业的就业作用。接下来，根据高中及以后二年级学生（1982 届）最近中年随访的数据，我们调查了高中生的数学和科学课程、知识和技能对中年职业的重要性。 1982 届毕业生在技术变革改变劳动力需求之前完成了高中学业。我们发现，参加了更高水平的高中数学课程的人喜欢从事平均工资分布中百分位数更高的职业，并且更有可能从事与 STEM 相关的职业。研究结果表明，数学课程使工人能够适应和应对不断变化的劳动力市场需求。