More than 22 percent of Austin area jobs require specialized STEM skills. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
A study released by the Brookings Institution today shows Austin’s percentage of STEM jobs in 2011 was slightly higher than the national average of 20 percent.
Most of these jobs (57 percent) require a Bachelor’s degree. But the study found that even Austin STEM jobs that require an Associates’ degree or less pay more – an average of $20 thousand more – than non-STEM jobs requiring a similar education.
The study’s authors say the data shows the federal government needs to do more to support STEM education and training at the community college level.
