STEM jobs are fastest-growing category in Idaho

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs are overtaking the service jobs that have traditionally driven Idaho’s economy.

The Idaho Department of Labor’s Industry and Occupation Job Projections report, released every two years, surprised economists when it came out in August. The report predicts what the economy will look like in 10 years based on economic trends and the input of stakeholders.

“STEM jobs are showing higher development than we were expecting,” said Craig Shaul, research analyst supervisor with the Idaho Department of Labor.

Each of the last seven reports predicted Idaho would be among the fastest-growing economies in the country, and this one does as well.  Idaho was forecast to grow by 20 percent by 2024, a rate behind only Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Texas, according to the Department of Labor.

What is different this year is that Idaho growth is typically expected in service occupations such as electrician, carpenter and plumber, but this year’s forecast predicted that 10 of the top 20 hottest jobs would be in STEM positions. The Department of Labor categorizes hot jobs based on projected growth and median wages.

“STEM jobs are finally showing up in Idaho,” said Bob Uhlenkott, chief research officer at the Idaho Department of Labor. “Of course they were in Idaho before, but not nearly as prevalent as now. This is the most growth we’ve anticipated in a decade.”

STEM positions are expected to grow at an annual rate of 2.8 percent while non-STEM positions are expected to grow at an annual rate of 1.8 percent, according to the Department of Labor.

This is good news for Idaho because STEM jobs tend to pay better than service jobs, Uhlenkott said.

Other jobs that were forecast to see rapid growth include lawyers, financial advisers and public relations specialists, all of which pay a median salary of about $30 per hour or more.

“It appears that job creation will be more sophisticated than it has been traditionally,” Uhlenkott said. “It will really put a requirement on the workforce to be educated and to have the talent and skills to fill these jobs.”

The DOL estimates that 61 percent of the new jobs created by 2024 will require more than a high school education. Only 42 percent of Idahoans between the age of 25 and 34 hold a college degree or technical certificate, according to the Idaho State Board of Education.