February 2009
Greetings from WISE Director Cinda-Sue DavisRecently JobsRated.com prepared a comprehensive ranking of 200 different jobs. At the top of the list was mathematician! As explained on their website, JobsRated.com analyzes 200 different jobs according to 5 vital criteria: stress, work environment, physical demands, income and outlook. The next time a young person studying mathematics asks you, "how am I ever going to use this stuff?" you will be able to point out that it doesn't get much better on the job than being a mathematician! In fact, mathematics-based careers filled out 8 of the top ten positions. In addition to mathematician, other top-ten careers included actuary, statistician, biologist, software engineer, computer systems analyst, industrial designer, and accountant. The only non-mathematics based careers in the top ten were historian and sociologist. Economist, physicist, meteorologist, medical laboratory technician, computer programmer and astronomer could be found among the next top ten careers. The state of Michigan is diligently trying to develop an educated work-force for the 21st century. It has recently implemented new high school graduation requirements that include mathematics through Algebra 2. This has met with a great deal of resistance, including recent calls that this specific requirement be reduced or eliminated. We all know that Algebra 2 is a necessary but not sufficient level of mathematics needed for the careers listed above. If anything, young people should be taking more mathematics in school, not less; it is imperative that women and students of color be filling up those math classes as well. Many UM schools, colleges, departments, and student organizations are currently working to improve math achievement levels among K-12 students throughout the state. Education and job training will be an important cornerstone of any plan to get us out of our current economic situation. Mathematics education will be a key component of this. What are you doing to help? |
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