Growing STEM Careers for Veterans

The STEM field has seen a rising demand for talent for decades which is projected to continue for years to come3. Military veterans, in particular, are a skilled pool of candidates that are qualified for these roles and are more likely to help meet this need. The U.S. sees a higher proportion of veterans take on roles in STEM compared to civilians, with veterans being 1.47 times more likely to be in a STEM occupation compared to non-veterans, and many organizations have hiring initiatives for recruiting veterans4.

Growing STEM careers across the U.S. currently include1,2:

  • Information Security Analysts
  • Engineers
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Data Science and Data Analysts
  • Geographic Information Systems Research/Technicians
  • Software Developers and Analysts

What makes veterans such a great source of STEM talent? Veterans gain a host of technical and soft skills, as well as sophisticated training, from their military experience which can be directly or indirectly valuable to a company or organization. Leadership, teamwork, and organization are among the many skills that employers seek out, in addition to more specialized military training and education.

Need guidance on how to leverage your specific military experience into your next career move? One of the Center for Career Development’s Career Consultants can help. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Additional information on growing careers can be found through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Photo by ThisIsEngineering

References

1 Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education: https://orise.orau.gov/resources/stem/professional-development/finding-an-internship/what-stem-careers-are-in-high-demand.html

2  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/stem-employment.htm

4 Syracuse University D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families: https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/article/enhancing-veterans-access-to-stem-education-and-careers/

By Mary Malerba
Mary Malerba Assistant Director, Alumni Relations