SCIENCE CAREERS PROVE
LONG AND FULFILLING
Pay cheques for scientists and engineers took a hit amid the wider
economic malaise of 2019. But a New Scientist job market survey
shows that STEM jobs remain hugely popular and satisfying
D
ESPITE turbulent economic times, careers
in science are holding their own. In 2019,
salaries for scientists and engineers
dropped in some areas of the UK. But by other
measures STEM jobs seem to be blossoming,
according to the 2020 STEM Market Survey,
produced by New Scientist in association with
STEM specialist recruiter SRG. Scientists report
having long, fulfilling careers and nearly all
science students say they intend to enter the
industry themselves.
The survey, published this week, looks at the
work scientists do and how they feel about it. It
KZENON/ALAMYIn association withalso gives insights into those all-important
salary numbers and how to get the most out
of the job market.
The survey reached nearly 3000 people
working in a spectrum of roles in science,
engineering and clinical settings. The
overwhelming majority of these were in the
UK, but a handful of other European nations
were also surveyed. Half of the respondents
were working as scientists in research,
development and quality control, with another
14 per cent working as engineers and 11 per cent
in academia. Of those in industry, the mostwell represented sectors were pharmaceuticals,
biotech and chemicals manufacturing. More
than three-quarters of respondents were
currently in STEM careers with the rest being
students, retirees, people on a career break or
now working elsewhere.
The 2018 edition of the survey contained
unadulterated good news for science jobs in
the UK. There was an almost double-digit
percentage increase in the average salary
compared with the previous year. This year’s
figures aren’t so healthy. Between 2018 and
2019, STEM salaries suffered a setback as the