Most STEM grads don't work in STEM jobs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Most STEM graduates never end up in narrowly defined STEM roles, raising questions about whether the “STEM shortage” narrative reflects reality or serves specific industry interests, especially in software and adtech. Commenters point to murky definitions of STEM work, grade inflation, unequal access to internships, and stark pay gaps that draw science and engineering majors into software, finance, management, or other better-paying fields. Others note that some areas—like specialized engineering and communications hardware—still struggle to hire, suggesting a mismatch between how STEM talent is produced, where it’s demanded, and how those jobs are rewarded.

Definition and Measurement of “STEM Jobs”

  • Commenters note that “STEM job” is fuzzy: many technical roles in finance, healthcare, government, QA, support, or management use STEM skills but may not be counted.
  • Some argue software in any industry is clearly STEM; others think stats that exclude tech managers or certain health roles undercount real STEM employment.
  • Debate over Census numbers: one side claims the article misuses a 28% figure; another points out Census explicitly says most STEM majors don’t end up in STEM-labeled jobs, especially in non-CS sciences and psychology.

Career Paths and Field Differences

  • Many STEM grads, especially in physics, biology, and other sciences, report difficulty finding field-specific jobs and migrate to software, data work, or non-STEM roles like sales (BDR/SDR), consulting, teaching, and law.
  • CS and engineering majors are said to be far more likely to work in-field than biology and other sciences.
  • Several anecdotes: physics/EE/mechanical grads pivoting to higher-paid software roles despite liking “real-world” or hardware work more.

Pay, Incentives, and Management Tracks

  • Perception that non-software STEM (lab science, traditional engineering) demands high expertise but pays less than software.
  • Commenters note employers often pay more for management and business roles, pulling technical talent out of hands-on STEM.
  • Some describe huge compensation gaps: firmware/EE vs junior web dev, or NASA-like work vs FAANG internships.

Access Barriers and Education as Product

  • Internships often assume students can relocate or self-fund housing; this favors wealthier students and those near major hubs.
  • Rising housing and tuition costs, plus debt risk, deter some from long STEM training for uncertain returns.
  • Multiple comments suggest grade inflation and reduced rigor in modern STEM programs, though some attribute perceived ease to being older and more focused.

STEM Shortage vs Oversupply

  • One thread describes hundreds to a thousand open positions for highly specialized engineers, with strong pay and training support, claiming a real shortage of “actual engineers.”
  • Others argue reported “shortages” coexist with underemployment in many STEM subfields and with employers unwilling to invest in training beyond narrow, pre-certified profiles.

Narratives Around the STEM Push

  • Some suspect the broad “STEM” push primarily served big tech’s need for more programmers (often for ad/engagement work), with science and engineering bundled in for marketing.
  • Others counter that STEM jobs are diverse and most do not involve advertising, and that focusing only on adtech is misleadingly negative.

Value of STEM Degrees Outside STEM

  • Several note STEM majors confer signaling and rigorous training that help in non-STEM careers (e.g., law, management), even if the job isn’t classified as STEM.