It takes careers and backgrounds of all sorts to make our hectic world and economy spin. Every year, countless millions of people enter the workforce with a variety of skill-sets and professional preferences, but not all career fields are currently benefiting from increased college attainment rates.

The fields of science, technology, engineering and math (commonly referred to as "STEM") continue to be among the highest paying careers available, yet very few are choosing careers in these fields. In order to motivate those who may be on the fence when it comes to a STEM career, we'll review just why STEM education is so important - whether you decide to pursue this path or not.

Increased Demand in STEM Careers
As our world continues to change, so do the types of jobs we need to fill. STEM careers, in particular, are growing at an exponential rate as we continue to implement more and more technology in our day-to-day lives. This had led to a current shortage of qualified applicants for the jobs we require right now and is fueling an even greater projected discrepancy for the future. Ultimately, these jobs pay well but require advanced training in science and engineering online and in physical campuses - something all too many have been unwilling to pursue while in college. The problem is so bad at present that the majority of STEM job openings are being filled by immigrants with STEM backgrounds or a masters of engineering online.

Valuable Skills
Even for those who may not pursue a career in STEM, the education associated with it is absolutely paramount. All too many schools have lagged behind other industrialized countries with respect to math and science test scores, showing that our students are not obtaining the level of education in these areas necessary to compete. This not only stifles growth in STEM careers but fails to provide people with the necessary skills for basic life in many areas. Many jobs require that employees understand the fundamentals of math and science - without comprehensive STEM education in primary and secondary school, these crucial skills and knowledge sets are not learned.

A Level Playing Field
With so many occupations and professions having limiting factors with respect to incomes and backgrounds, STEM education provides a way for children of all backgrounds to succeed. While careers in professions such as law and medicine require either possessing or borrowing a small fortune in order to break through, careers in science, math, engineering and technology offer students a chance to obtain meaningful and well-paid careers with minimal investment. Additionally, STEM education helps level imbalances in the professional world not just in an economic sense, but also in other areas (such as race or gender).

STEM education provides students with a well-balanced understanding of the world around them. It teaches valuable skills that everybody will need to know later in life, but it also opens doors to opportunity for those who might not succeed otherwise. With the absolute increase in demand for STEM careers on top of that, there's no reason why we shouldn't promote more STEM education in our primary and secondary schools.