In the war for jobs, the competition is fierce. And the decision to expand or relocate in a region often comes down to one factor: talent. Does the region have a steady stream of workers with the right skills to fill the jobs they will create both now and in the future? If not, how can a region develop the future workforce to meet these needs?
One way in which this is being done is through encouraging students to study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Why? Because nationwide, the unemployment rate remains high yet there are numerous jobs going unfilled because of a skills mismatch and a shortage of workers going into STEM related career fields.
Locally through the Central Florida STEM Education Council, businesses and government organizations have teamed up with both primary and secondary schools to stimulate students' interest in STEM in order to prepare our region for the future.
And this year at the University of Central Florida, the National Science Olympiad competition was held. It was the first time this event was ever held in Orlando and UCF hosted the event where more than 10,000 middle and high school students, families and teachers gathered to compete in the largest science tournament in the country. With 46 STEM-related events and local mentors at the event, the Olympiad exposed students to a variety of future career options. For more information, click here.
