Today we celebrate all who work in science, technology, engineering, and math. These subjects push society to create, invent, and find innovative ways to change the status quo. Fun fact, the date of November 8th was chosen because it’s a play on words for Innovate (Nov8)!
As a software company located in Atlanta, one of the largest FinTech hubs in the United States, GT Software has a strong affinity for those studying STEM, as they often build careers within the FinTech community. There are endless opportunities for those looking for a STEM career in Fintech, from programming to cyber security to AI and more.
The corporate headquarters of four of the world’s 10 biggest digital payment-processing companies are located in Atlanta (Global Payments, NCR, Fiserv, and Worldpay). Additionally, over 120 FinTech providers consider Atlanta as home or have offices here. FinTech has a deep history in Atlanta, stemming from when Georgia Tech helped develop automated clearinghouse technology in the 1970s. Because of Georgia Tech’s help, consumers and organizations are able to use ACH to pay and receive money electronically.
As the FinTech community continues to thrive in Atlanta and globally, STEM occupations also continue to grow. In fact, employment in science, technology, engineering, and math has increased by 79% since 1990. Employment in those fields has risen from 9.7 million to 17.3 million, which is outpacing the overall U.S. job growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts overall employment to grow by 7.4% between 2016 and 2026, while STEM jobs are projected to increase by 10.8%. According to the Technology Student Association (TSA), in addition to the increase in the number of jobs available in STEM fields, 93 out of 100 STEM occupations earn wages above the national average. The largest STEM occupations are IT-related, with computer occupations making up nearly 45% of STEM employment.
If you work in the STEM community, we take our hats off to you and celebrate all you have worked hard to accomplish and all that you will achieve in the future. Maybe today is the day that you look into mentoring or giving back to the community, or perhaps supporting those who are interested in a career in STEM. Alternatively, if you have been interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, we suggest you look into hobbies, activities, and careers that focus on those subjects. A career in STEM can be very challenging but also extremely rewarding, and is a career path that we hope you choose to pursue. In fact, we are currently hiring at GT Software, and we encourage you to look consider pursuing a career with us.
-Amanda Bierfeld Williams, Marketing Coordinator at GT Software