Do you know what an Enterprise Architect is? A Full Stack engineer, a Cloud engineer, or a Data Scientist? These are all amongst the best paying ‘new’ jobs’ now, according to the latest Glassdoor report. The common denominator being that they are all tech related.
Technology is everywhere
The most in-demand job in the UK today is that of a software engineer, with currently over 3,500 active (unfilled) job openings. If you are a Java developer, you may have to beat away the job offers after graduation. The Glassdoor report showed something we all sort of know, that with the fast and ongoing digitalisation of our economy, tech in business has become very dominant and those who study STEM subjects at school or at university have a real leg up over their peers.
Are you prepared?
The question is, if all these new, high paying, tech jobs as well as other future jobs are what A-level and university student are actually preparing for? Considering what is happening in the metaverse, esports- and gaming industries, will the skills needed in the future jobs markets be in line with the skills acquired both in and out of school and at university?
It seems you are certainly getting there. STEM subjects are the fastest growing subject groups in the top 10 most popular A-levels, according to the Science Campaign (www.sciencecampaign.org.uk). Out of the total number of 756,230 of A-level entries in 2021, Mathematics is the most popular A level choice with almost 90,000 entries. Biology (61,130 entries) and Chemistry (54,534 entries) rank 3 and 4 and Physics is the 8th most popular A-level choice with 35,740 entries. These are really promising numbers.
The dilemma of Further Maths
The slight spanner in the STEM wheel is the A-level subject of Further Maths, with only 13,730 entries. This number reflects just under 2% of all A-level entries and 70% of that 2% are male students. This creates an unwanted ripple effect. First, because most university degrees that eventually lead to these high-paying tech jobs, list Further Maths as useful (meaning those who have taken it have a competitive edge) or required (Oxford); and second, the (too) low number of female students taking Further Maths then exacerbates the gender differences in the uptake of university degrees, such as Computer Science, preparing for these future jobs,
Computer Science is the 4th most popular university course in the UK with a steadily growing number of applicants, which is great news. However only 17.5% of Computer Science students are female, a perfect reflection and result of earlier A-level choices. So, sadly, most of the juicy new jobs will – as things stand today – be taken up by male undergraduates. Despite the increasing number of male and female students in technology related fields, the overall number is still only a fraction of what is needed now and will be needed tomorrow. Even more GCSE students should consider the STEM subjects and Further Maths for their A-levels to keep their options open.
Math up
Lastly, we hear a lot about the importance of soft skills such as emotional intelligence, the ability to work in teams and to be creative. This is of course all true. But the simple fact is that all future jobs will require a good level of technical- and coding skills, whatever the industry. “Hiring in the computer and information technology fields has a faster projected growth between 2020 and 2030 than all other fields, stemming from companies’ greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security”, says a report by the US Department of Labour. It is hard to disagree.
So, Math up. And in case you study other, not math- or tech related subjects, do coding courses in your own time. There are many at all levels. If you are after that future job, that is.
Suggested links:
https://results.ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/a-level/further-mathematics.php?v=20190815
https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/blog/highest-paying-jobs-uk/
https://www.mathscareers.org.uk/degree-courses-a-level-mathematics/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm
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