DETROIT – As part of the recently launched ‘Michigan STEM Careers Video Showcase’, the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan is requesting its’ members and statewide audience contribute videos to the initiative about their connected technologies-related careers.
Targeting those working in all STEM fields, the ‘Michigan STEM Careers Video Showcase’, will feature self-produced smartphone videos from STEM professionals across all industries throughout Michigan. These STEM professionals will be providing videos, typically 3 – 5 minutes in length, that will discuss the work they do, the type of education required, what they love about their job, and the “opportunity” from their perspective (ie: why students should pursue that career).
These videos will then be hosted on the Michigan STEM Partnership website (at MISTEMPartnership.com/VideoShowcase), and in the case of the connected tech-related videos, also on the MTAM website (GoMobileMichigan.org) for review and use by students, parents and educators. The videos will also be shared in social media and public presentations by representatives of the involved partner organizations.
Goals for the initiative include:
Increasing student awareness of the wide variety of STEM-related careers, requirements to work in those careers, and the opportunity those careers provide for exciting, challenging and lucrative careers
Increasing parent awareness of the same in order to enable parents to see the value in supporting their children to go into STEM-related careers – particularly females and minorities who are currently severely under-represented in many STEM fields
Providing educators with a tool they can use as a part of their curriculum
Providing Michigan businesses an opportunity to showcase their firms and their employees as a potential recruitment tool
Providing STEM employees across every industry in Michigan an opportunity to showcase their expertise
Those working in connected technologies-related fields are aware of the high-demand for these skills and the severe shortage of available talent. U.S. Department of Labor and analyst studies have indicated that by 2020 the U.S. will be faced with a shortage of 1.4 million persons in connected tech-related fields; here in Michigan our share of that shortage is expected to exceed 100,000 persons.
“We’re at a critical juncture in Michigan; in less than 3 years we need 100,000 people that we won’t have unless we do something drastic,” said MTAM Executive Director Linda Daichendt.” We already have about 15,000 connected tech-related jobs in the state going unfilled. If we don’t find a way to solve this problem by getting our students, and those seeking second or alternative careers, interested in filling these jobs, then the jobs will go elsewhere, companies will leave and Michigan and its economy will be left behind. What likely isn’t well-known is that these jobs are very well paid. A study by MTAM and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation indicated that the average compensation for someone working in a connected tech-related position is about $89,000 per year, much higher than the average wage in the state!”
Added Daichendt: “We hope that those currently working in connected tech-related fields will be excited to share their enthusiasm about the work they do, and the companies they work for, by providing videos that we can share all around the state. We believe this can have significant impact on increasing participation in these fields in Michigan.”
Videos for the ‘Michigan STEM Careers Video Showcase’ are currently being accepted. Those interested in participating can obtain details at http://MiSTEMPartnership.com/VideoShowcase.
