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ave you ever wondered what the outlook might be for your STEM career five or even 10 years out? Or may- be you are a current student weighing your options for a chosen career path and need to know the type of degree that is required. Oak Ridge Institute for Sci- ence and Education labor trends and workforce studies experts have culled through the BLS data and have summarized the outlook for several select STEM careers. With the right information in-hand - and a prestigious research experience to complement your education - you can increase the confi- dence you have when selecting a STEM career.
Software Developers
There are over 1,469,000 software developers in the U.S. workforce either employed as systems software developers or employed as applications software developers. Togeth- er, employment for software developers is projected to grow 22 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Software developers will be needed to respond to an increased demand for computer software because of an increase in the number of products that use software. The need for new applications on smart phones and tablets will also increase the demand for software devel- opers. Software developers are the creative minds behind com- puter programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device.
What STEM Careers are in
HIGH DEMAND?
Others develop the underlying systems that run the devic- es or that control networks. Most jobs in this field require a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a re- lated field and strong computer programming skills. Software developers are in charge of the entire develop- ment process for a software program from identifying the core functionality that users need from software programs to determining requirements that are unrelated to the functions of the software, such as the lev- el of security and performance. Software developers design each piece of an application or system and plan how the pieces will work together. This often re- quires collaboration with other computer specialists to create optimum software.
Atmospheric Scientists
Atmospheric sciences include ields such as climatology, climate science, cloud physics, aeronomy, dynamic meteorol- ogy, atmosphere chemistry, atmosphere physics, broadcast meteorology and weather forecasting. Most jobs in the atmospher- ic sciences require at least a bachelor's degree in atmo- spheric science or a related ield that studies the interaction of the atmosphere with other scientific realms such as physics, chemistry or geology. Addition- ally, courses in remote sensing by radar and satellite are useful when pursuing this career path. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer models have greatly improved the accuracy of forecasts and resulted in highly customized forecasts for specific purpos- es. The need for atmospheric scientists working in private industry is predicted to increase as businesses demand more specialized weather information for time-sensitive delivery logis- ics and ascertaining the impact of severe weather patterns on industrial operations. The de- mand for atmospheric scientists working for the federal govern- ment will be subject to future federal budget constraints. The BLS projects employment of at- mospheric scientists to grow by 8 percent over the 2018 to 2028 period. The largest employers of atmospheric scientists and meteorologists are the feder- al government, research and development organizations in the physical, engineering, and
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