If you’re a science, tech, engineer or math pro with a clearance, take heed. You are a people in short supply and high demand.
The latest figures reported by the U.S. Department of Labor show STEM job growth going steadily forward. Fifteen of the 20 fastest growing occupations now require STEM skills, with an estimated one million STEM job openings projected over the next four years.
As a trend, it’s already leaving hiring managers in the lurch and it’s only going to get tougher for two reasons. First, there’s a skill shortage. And second, many of the STEM jobs require a security clearance.
PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC SECTOR
The federal government and defense industry remain the best bet for cleared STEM job opportunities. But it should be noted that even corporate giants like Amazon, Dell, Microsoft and McAfee look for security-cleared personnel.
“We do hire veterans for jobs in which a security clearance is required,” said Wendy Gillette, Global Policy Manager and Talent Manager for McAfee, a global security technology corporation. “We hire people with top level clearances, SCI and polygraph. These jobs are in the minority compared to the non-cleared positions, but there are good opportunities for skilled and security cleared personnel.”
Corporate STEM jobs requiring clearances will likely continue to increase. But the highest concentration looks to remain within sectors that do business with the government.
According to a recent Forbes/Indeed report, SAIC, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, all of which hire cleared candidates, now rank among the top 10 companies with STEM job openings. Last month’s postings at SAIC: 1,380. Lockheed Martin posted 1,350, and Northrop Grumman advertised for more than 1,000 openings. The bulk of new hires will be candidates with the golden combination of STEM skills and a clearance.
WHERE THE JOBS ARE
As for the cities with the most STEM job openings, they literally run across the map. The top 10 in order: New York, Washington, D.C., San Jose, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas. Salaries are on part with demand. Currently, the highest salaries are in the San Jose, San Francisco region, averaging $115,000; in Washington, D.C., $102,000; in Boston, $98,000.
Job openings most commonly posted in the IT and math career fields include Java developer, software engineers, systems engineers and network engineers. In architecture and engineering fields, hiring managers are predominantly looking for mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, quality and project engineers. Design and test engineers are also in great demand.
