Filling In the Gaps in the Job Market with Math and Science Studies
When it comes to students’ proficiency in math and science, Canada has slowly inched its way to the top 10, which has long been dominated by countries like Singapore, South Korea, Finland, and Norway. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests conducted in 2017 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada’s teenagers are among the best educated in the world, ahead of US and other European countries like UK and France.
In addition, Canada is proving to the world that it can break down the gender barriers in math and science industries with the announcement in early October that University of Waterloo professor Donna Strickland was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for physics, becoming only the third woman to ever win it in 55 years (Marie Curie was the first one in 1903 followed by Maria Goeppert Mayer in 1963).
Still, there are areas for improvement, but the country is on the right track in molding the minds of today’s youth to embrace math and science. Studies that involve a focus on either math or science or both can lead to a promising career that will fill in the gaps in the current job market. In fact, according to a study by Statistics Canada in 2017, not only do graduates from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields earn more than those graduates from Business, Arts, Humanities, Health, and Education, STEM graduates are also more likely to have an easy time landing a job shortly upon the completion of their studies.
Here is a look at three ideal career options for STEM graduates based on Canada’s Top 10 Best Jobs for 2018:
Engineering Manager
If you’re looking into getting into this field, you can choose from among several options for your specialized study. For instance, a degree in electrical, civil, or structural engineering can lead to a promising career in the construction industry, while a mechanical engineering degree can result in a rewarding career within the industrial and manufacturing fields. After graduation, working to acquire a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) licence by the province or territory you intend to work in is most helpful for high-level positions such as supervisor, managers, and directors. Furthermore, acquiring a Project Management Professional (PMP) credential would be an advantage as well since this will demonstrate that you are capable of leading, evaluating, and managing projects.
Healthcare Manager
Due to the rise of the aging population in the country, a career as a healthcare manager will be more needed than ever. A degree in science-focused studies such as medicine, pharmacy, and nursing is not a requirement for this position. However, it can prove to be a huge plus in the long run. Healthcare managers are responsible for overseeing a healthcare facility–hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, retirement homes, and others–ensuring that systems, processes, procedures, budget, equipment, and staff are all in place, while addressing the needs of the community and aligning them with those of practitioners, and stakeholders. Healthcare managers can also pursue studies in business administration or healthcare management to be further successful in this capacity.
Banking Manager
It’s common knowledge that not a lot of students are passionate about math or anything that has something to do with crunching the numbers unless it has to do with figuring out sports teams’ odds of winning or computing shopping discounts. Good thing then that to enter in the field of banking management, you don’t have to be a math whiz nor a math lover. However, it certainly helps to have an in-depth understanding of fundamental quantitative concepts to thrive in this field, which can also involve risk assessment and portfolio management. Meanwhile, students who complete a bachelor’s degree in either finance or economics have a higher chance of entering into investment banking, trading, or mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
If any of the three mentioned above interest you, it’s time to get cracking. Of course, there are a lot more options, but considering the three above is a good start when evaluating what future career will be best for you.
SOURCES:
https://phys.org/news/2017-10-people-maths.html
https://news.efinancialcareers.com/ca-en/226245/what-to-study-if-you-want-to-work-in-banking
https://bizfluent.com/how-does-4564230-banking-relate-math.html
https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Healthcare_Manager/Salary
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