STEM Jobs? Not In Honolulu

Nationally, we rank close to the bottom when it comes to professions involving science, technology, engineering and math.

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With STEM jobs — it stands for science, technology, engineering and math — expected to grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM jobs in the coming years, WalletHub has a new analysis of 2017’s Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals.

Data sets included “per-capita job openings for STEM graduates” and “annual median wage growth for STEM workers.”

Honolulu, sadly, ranked No. 95 out of 100 metropolitan areas, barely ahead of places like Jackson, Miss.

Here’s some rankings for us and STEM jobs:

  • 72nd – % of Workforce in STEM
  • 85th – STEM Employment Growth
  • 100th – Annual Median Wage for STEM Workers (Adjusted by Cost of Living)
  • 100th – Housing Affordability
  • 79th – Projected Demand for STEM Jobs by 2020

The best areas of the country for STEM professions were (no surprise at all) Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue in Washington, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in California, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward (also in the Golden State) and Boston-Cambridge-Newton in the Massachusetts-New Hampshire region.

Somewhere, both Linda Lingle and David Ige are weeping.

STEM students at UH Hilo. Sorry, kids, no jobs in The Big Pineapple for you! 

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