How the STEM World Evolves

#STEMforward

The evolving global economic climate has brought about significant shifts in the priorities and concerns of STEM professionals. Couple this with the explosion in AI technology and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and we can start to understand why huge numbers of the workforce are nervous about their future.

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53%

of respondents think it's more important that they keep their job than receive a pay rise, while just 16% disagree

63%

STEM professionals say ‘Continuing to work flexibly’ is a factor that will affect their career

81%

of STEM respondents state personal purpose at work as the main influence driving their careers

28%

of STEM professionals are now more worried about their wellbeing compared to last year

Top 5

‘Retiring workforce’ is voted by STEM professionals as one of the top 5 challenges likely to impact their careers

34%

of STEM professionals are worried about losing their jobs to AI and automation

Dive into our research

In each section we dive deeply into the attitudes and experiences of STEM professionals, exploring the motivations behind their responses and what businesses can do to support them. With greater importance being placed on job security and personal purpose, married with concerns over wellbeing, an ageing population and the potential impact of AI and automation, creating a fulfilling and supportive work environment is more important than ever.

But while finding the right balance between harnessing the pace of change in technology, engaging and maintaining the trust of their workforces, is a difficult one to crack, it is critical to the success of any business.

STEM professionals value career security over a pay rise

In today’s economic climate, labour market shifts and megatrends are revolutionising the working world and influencing professionals' needs.

STEM professionals want more from their roles than employers are offering

Apart from attractive salary rates and benefits, candidates continue to want flexibility. But how that looks has changed.

Purpose is the key driver in STEM professionals’ careers

Purpose at work has become more important, and intrinsic personal purpose far outweighs organisational extrinsic purpose.

Over a third of STEM professionals are worried about losing their jobs to AI and automation

How can businesses help STEM professionals create a role-relevant partnership with AI, rather than be automated out of a job?

Concerns over wellbeing rising among STEM professionals

An increasing sense of pressure has caused a rise in specialists worrying about wellbeing in the past 12 months. What are the solutions?

Employers are focusing on the wrong demographic to get the most from the ageing workforce

A generational phenomenon, underpinned by increased life expectancy and decreasing birth rates, is sweeping across global markets.

Insight articles

Preparing for a new era

The future of work is evolving. Sought-after STEM professionals are demanding that their needs are listened to throughout their career. And dynamic organisations need access to their skills to stay ahead of their competitors.

By gaining a deep understanding of the needs of both candidates and clients we are perfectly placed to match sought-after specialists with the dynamic organisations that need them. We understand how attitudes are changing, allowing employers to fulfil the needs of the STEM professionals they seek, before the competition.

The future of STEM

Attracting talent

About us

How we can help

Bringing skilled people together to build the future

There has rarely been a more challenging time for STEM professionals. The five global megatrends of digitalisation, decarbonisation, personalised healthcare, new working models and demographic shifts are driving change within workforces at a pace we’ve never experienced. But with that challenge comes excitement and opportunity.

Just at a time when they are needed the most, a global shortage of STEM professionals is threatening to impede progress and limit productivity in an already stretched sector. Many will look to artificial intelligence for the answer, but despite everything it promises it cannot alone provide the solution. Businesses who rely solely on new, largely untested, technology will be contributing to the widening skills gap and, ultimately, exacerbating their problems in the long run. So, what can employers do to attract, and retain, the best specialists in a competitive market?

Reconsidering talent acquisition

While remuneration is clearly an important issue, job security is a clear desire for employees – and that includes contractors, who are keen to secure extensions to existing deals. But that won’t come at any cost. Health and wellbeing is a key consideration, and it is notable that significant gaps exist in what employees think is acceptable, and what their workforce actually receives.

It’s also striking that employees are seeking out organisations that not only have a clear sense of purpose, but also are also prepared to understand and respect the needs of those who work for them. But in a competitive market, where time is of the essence, it’s difficult to get to know the needs of candidates without risking losing them to a competitor.

That’s where specialist recruitment teams come in.

What we do

By understanding the needs of candidates, they can find the right people talent to fill specialist roles ahead of the competition. At SThree, our house of brands covers all sectors, across life sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. With a database of STEM professionals that match your needs, we can fill specialist recruitment needs at pace, whether contract or permanent roles.

Find out more about us

Our specialist brands

Our family of specialist recruitment brands in more than 40 offices across 15 countries, from Europe to Japan and the USA, provides a unique combination of worldwide reach and expert local recruitment knowledge across several sectors.

By bringing skilled people together, we are elevating expertise and energising progress for everyone.

Explore our house of specialist brands

Computer Futures is a dynamic and highly regarded specialist IT recruitment provider, placing specialists in both permanent and contract roles. 

Progressive Recruitment provides sought-after specialists in engineering, life sciences, IT, global energy, construction and supply chains.

Real Staffing is a leader in the pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biotechnology sectors, with specialist services in IT and the public sector.

Huxley is a global leader in contract and permanent recruitment for banking and finance, engineering, IT and supply chain industries.

Global Enterprise Partners is an enterprise technology agency, placing specialist contractors in SAP, Oracle, ERP, CRM, Enterprise Cloud and other software projects.