Whiz kids wanted; apply everywhere, apply often

If ever there was a heyday for geeks, nerds and slide-rule aficionados it’s now. Just ask the Bayer Corp., which this week released a national survey showing that demand for those trained and educated in the magic of science, technology, engineering and math is so strong most recruiters can’t fill the void.

Of the 150 recruiters surveyed, 89 percent said competition to fill open STEM jobs with four-year degree holders is very stiff, with the need for job candidates graduating with two- and four-year degrees growing even for non-STEM jobs.

Employers apparently can’t get enough of biology, chemistry and engineering students, especially those trained in broader areas, rather than those simply trained to provide technical support, according to the report, titled “The Bayer Facts of Science Education XVI: U.S. STEM Workforce Shortage – Myth or Reality? Fortune 1000 Talent Recruiters on the Debate.”

In addition, and this is good news for cash-strapped parents, 73 percent of recruiters in the report say that two-year degree holders will continue to be “as” or “more in demand” than their counterparts with non-STEM degrees.

Not surprisingly, recruiters report great difficulty in hiring candidates of color, with just 16 percent saying they can find adequate numbers of Hispanic, African-American and American Indian job candidates with two- and four-year STEM degrees.

So let nerds rejoice and hope this demand for chemistry, biology, engineering and whiz kids continues.

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