Communications of the ACM
Many High School Students Do Not Plan to Pursue Science and Healthcare Jobs
Despite the projected need for healthcare practitioners at all levels in a challenging job market, nearly half of high school-age students (45 percent of 13 to 18 year-olds) are not considering pursuing a career in the science and healthcare fields. The news comes as a result of a recent survey conducted online by Harris Interactive for University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
Of the students who are not interested in pursuing a career in the sciences and healthcare, 22 percent feel they "do not know enough about careers in healthcare and the sciences" to pursue them. This includes 19 percent of teenagers between the ages of 16 to 18, a critical juncture for making decisions that impact their career options.
America's graying population, coupled with the yet-to-be-determined impact of healthcare reform, means countless healthcare and science jobs will need to be filled within the next decade.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the healthcare industry is among the fastest growing in the country and will create 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018. Wage and salary employment in the healthcare industry is projected to increase 22 percent through 2018, compared with 11 percent for all industries combined. The occupations projected to grow the fastest, include home health aides, medical assistants, and physical therapists.
"While only three percent of the students surveyed felt there are few job opportunities in the sciences, a markedly higher percentage felt they did not know enough about these jobs," says Russell J. DiGate, provost at University of the Sciences. "To meet the projected growing demand, there appears to be a need to help teenagers understand the types of healthcare and science opportunities available to them, and then encourage them in their choices."
The survey, conducted between May 20-25 among 604 high school-age students, also suggests that the disinterest in science and healthcare jobs is partly due to students feeling intimidated by the field. Specifically, among high school age students who express disinterest:
- Twenty-one percent feel they are not good at science and healthcare subjects in school;
- Nineteen percent do not feel ready to study science or healthcare in college;
- Twelve percent feel getting a healthcare degree would be too difficult.
With its science and healthcare focus, University of the Sciences has historically seen 90 percent of its graduates get a job or pursue post-graduate education placements within three months of graduation.
"Healthcare and science jobs are dynamic, meaningful, and rewarding," says DiGate. "And keeping high school students informed about the options available to them will help talented individuals pursue these professions; this ultimately serves society as a whole."
This Healthcare and Science Jobs survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of University of the Sciences in Philadelphia between May 20 to 25 among 606 children aged 10 to 18, 604 of whom are aged 13 to 18. 10-17 year old results were weighted as needed for age, sex, race/ethnicity, parental education, urbanicity, and region. 18 year old results were weighted as needed for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, and household income. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
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