The STEM Career Pathways report and Pathways to Diversity in STEM Review highlight the crucial task of continuing to break down barriers to a diverse STEM workforce and providing greater opportunity and career certainty to researchers.
The STEM Career Pathways report surveyed nearly 3,500 people working in STEM. It was conducted and written by Science & Technology Australia on behalf of the Prime Minister’s National Science and Technology Council.
It found there is an increasing need for STEM skills from employers, this need will only increase in years to come, and STEM qualifications are highly valued by employers.
But while STEM workers are committed to their careers, barriers include long hours, job insecurity and unclear career pathways.
The Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review final recommendations – also released today – charts a path to powerfully boosting diversity including by learning from best practice, such as STA’s game-changing Superstars of STEM program.
“Science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills and workers play a crucial role in the country’s workforce, and this is only going to increase,” said STA Acting CEO Sandra Gardam.
“Together, these two reports provide essential insights on what Australia needs to do to support a growing STEM workforce.”
“The Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review tells us how to get more people into STEM jobs and careers, and the STEM Career Pathways report reveals how to make workplaces ready and retain talented STEM workers.”
STA made a submission to the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review on behalf of its members.
“STA is a champion of diversity and our Superstars of STEM program has had a powerful effect on the public visibility of diverse scientists. We are pleased to see the program recognised as a model of best practice in the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review.”
“The expert panel also accepted our recommendations for a whole-of-government strategy to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM, the establishment of a dedicated advisory council, a government communications strategy to increase awareness about the importance of diversity in STEM, and acknowledged how important it is to give greater certainty to researchers through longer research grants.”
“We congratulate the Review panel – Sally-Ann Williams, Mikaela Jade and Associate Professor Parwinder Kaur – for their work.”
