As we enjoy Labor Day this year, we might reflect on what current U.S. labor statistics tell us. As reported just today, the unemployment rate has dropped to 5.1%—the lowest in 7 years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the most job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, and financial activities.
But the highest-paying jobs among college graduates, as I discussed last month, are mostly concentrated in the engineering field. In fact, since 1975, wages in industries that require a STEM degree (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have grown five times faster than U.S. wages.
Yesterday, however, Bloomberg reported an interesting phenomenon that may well highlight not only which jobs will fuel the U.S. economy, but also the cities that will do it. Among the unusual suspects? Huntsville, Alabama.
Bloomberg recounted the journey of geneticist Richard Meyers, who left a directorship at Stanford’s medical school a decade ago to launch a genetics research lab in Huntsville. This phenomenon may seem surprising to a large swath of the general public, but Huntsville—home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center—has been a tech hub for quite some time.
Last year, nearly 17% of workers in Huntsville held STEM jobs (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics), which places it behind only two other cities in the U.S. for the most “technical” workforce. (San Jose, CA and Framingham, MA earned the top spots). Durham, NC, Oklahoma City, OK, and Denver, CO are also among the many cities outside of Silicon Valley to attract tech workers and jobs.
In 1894, Labor Day became a federal holiday to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers responsible for the strength, prosperity, and well-being of this country. So this weekend, let’s take a moment to celebrate workers everywhere, from Seattle to Saratoga. And if you are wondering how to celebrate, why not look again to Huntsville. Enjoy!
-S.P. Slaughter
Follow me on Twitter: @SP_Slaughter
But the highest-paying jobs among college graduates, as I discussed last month, are mostly concentrated in the engineering field. In fact, since 1975, wages in industries that require a STEM degree (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have grown five times faster than U.S. wages.
Yesterday, however, Bloomberg reported an interesting phenomenon that may well highlight not only which jobs will fuel the U.S. economy, but also the cities that will do it. Among the unusual suspects? Huntsville, Alabama.
Bloomberg recounted the journey of geneticist Richard Meyers, who left a directorship at Stanford’s medical school a decade ago to launch a genetics research lab in Huntsville. This phenomenon may seem surprising to a large swath of the general public, but Huntsville—home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center—has been a tech hub for quite some time.
Last year, nearly 17% of workers in Huntsville held STEM jobs (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics), which places it behind only two other cities in the U.S. for the most “technical” workforce. (San Jose, CA and Framingham, MA earned the top spots). Durham, NC, Oklahoma City, OK, and Denver, CO are also among the many cities outside of Silicon Valley to attract tech workers and jobs.
In 1894, Labor Day became a federal holiday to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers responsible for the strength, prosperity, and well-being of this country. So this weekend, let’s take a moment to celebrate workers everywhere, from Seattle to Saratoga. And if you are wondering how to celebrate, why not look again to Huntsville. Enjoy!
-S.P. Slaughter
Follow me on Twitter: @SP_Slaughter
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