Posted by SMC Pneumatics USA- Orange Coast Pneumatics on 5/7/2014 to
Basic Pneumatics
The number of STEM professionals in the marketplace has a direct correlation with the United States’ ability to keep pace with the global marketplace, and for companies like SMC Pneumatics USA to remain in existence. But what exactly is STEM, and why does it matter so much to pneumatics?
An Explanation of STEM
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and is a term used to describe the skills obtained through education in these areas. According to US News & World Report, one of the richest sources of employment and economic growth in America will be from jobs requiring these types of skills. However research shows that secondary schools continue to lack highly qualified teachers in STEM subjects and that, consequently, many high school students are not properly prepared for careers in mathematics and science. And because STEM is tied directly to basic pneumatics products, this gap could have far-reaching consequences as we move into the future of pneumatics and the companies who supply them to the marketplace – companies like SMC Pneumatics USA.
Why Investment in STEM is Important for Pneumatics
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts that through 2020, a huge portion of our economy (9.2 million jobs) will be STEM jobs. Yet at the same time, the National Math and Science Initiative forecasts a decline in the United States’ ability to compete in a global marketplace due to shortages of professionals in STEM fields. We are encouraged by governmental efforts to train students in these skills to help fill the increasing numbers of vacant positions in STEM professions. Investment in STEM education beginning in adolescence will help the United States not only maintain its role as a global innovation leader, but will also help our country continue to fulfill the needs of companies requiring basic pneumatics products. Without this investment, our country’s ability to produce enough professionals to fill these jobs hangs in the balance, as does the ability for companies like SMC Pneumatics USA to supply these essential products to the marketplace. So the overarching takeaway is that STEM and pneumatics are uniquely intertwined, and that we must maintain a balance in the economy to ensure the continued availability of technologically advanced pneumatics products to the consumers we serve.
SMC Pneumatics USA, is powered by Orange Coast Pneumatics. Orange Coast Pneumatics (OcAire) is an official, national provider of SMC Pneumatics USA products. SMC offers 11,300 general pneumatics products, with over 560,000 variations, engineered to meet applications in every sector of the market. If you would like more information on our products and services, please visit us at our Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.