STEM vs Humanities
Major in STEM for a Better Life
Throughout the past several decades, debates have persisted regarding the two primary categories of occupations, college majors, and classes: STEM and the humanities. Although many prefer the humanities because liberal arts field are seen as easier than STEM, STEM is more beneficial and students in the humanities should consider changing their focus to ensure success in their future.
Part of the desire for taking STEM classes is the high demand for these fields. Jobs are generally plentiful for STEM majors, and in 2019 the unemployment rate for STEM graduates was only 2%, significantly less than the 4% for non-STEM majors. Although some predict that the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning will limit the number of opportunities in this field, this is not the case. In fact, these developments are opening more opportunities for STEM majors and contributing to the continued decline of STEM unemployment.
In addition to job security, STEM majors are also more likely to make more money. The high technical skill level of these individuals means that employers are willing to pay employees higher prices in order to secure their service. The average STEM salary in America in 2020 was $100,900, which is significantly more than the $55,260 of humanities majors in that same year. In a world of growing inflation and housing costs, one’s income has a greater impact on quality of life.
Even though many people perceive STEM to be hard, I believe that everyone has the potential to succeed in STEM. If one studies enough, they will attain the ability to conceptualize difficult mathematical equations and complex science ideas. There is no limit to your intelligence, so go out of your comfort zone and pursue STEM!
