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Advocate for STEM Education

Raise your voice and shoot a quick email to your legislators, encouraging them to continue supporting STEM education during this legislative session!

Here are some items you might consider asking your legislator to support:

  • Tax credits for business/industry that employ STEM students and graduates as interns.
  • The creation of a professional development fund targeted to assist STEM educators.

Personal stories can be impactful!

When you reach out to your legislator, consider telling a story about how STEM has personally affected you and your community. You could share stories relating to:

Importance of STEM education

  • Early STEM exposure through after-school and out-of-school programs​ ​​
  • Creativity and innovative problem-solving from internships and formal education​ ​​
  • Competitive pay and robust skills training in trade jobs​​​ ​​

Challenges to building a strong STEM workforce

  • Lack of STEM opportunity in some rural and low-income communities​​​
  • Skills gaps from recent high-school graduates​​
  • Expanding South Carolina's homegrown workforce​​​​​

Solutions to fostering STEM skills

  • Consistent, broad awareness about the importance of STEM
  • Education and industry connection and communication​​​
  • Teacher resources and support in classrooms and afterschool​​

Share How STEM Impacts the State's Economy & Success!

Here are some quick facts relating to South Carolina's STEM economy and growth.

Math is a critical driver of jobs in South Carolina.

The top industries in value in 2021 were Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate.
 (Source: South Carolina Economic Analysis Report)​

Hundreds of advanced manufacturing companies call South Carolina home.

65+ existing manufacturers announced expansions in 2022 and 2023 combined.
(Source: Industries | South Carolina Department of Commerce)​

A STEM bachelor’s degree can provide an entry point to higher paying jobs. 

The median wage for workers with a bachelor’s degree and working in STEM occupations is $75,000, compared to $55,000 in non-STEM occupations.
 (Source: 2024 Science and Engineering Indicators)​

The forestry industry in South Carolina supports high quality, high wage jobs. 

For every 10 jobs created directly by businesses in the forestry sector, another 11 jobs, on average, are created elsewhere in South Carolina.
(Source: South Carolina Forestry Commission)​

South Carolina life science careers—biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedical technologies, medical devices, food processing—are booming.

The average wage is $87,369 – 79% higher than the average wage in South Carolina.
(Source: SCbio Industry Snapshot)

South Carolina is a global hub for innovation.

 There has been a 254% growth in the number of tech firms in South Carolina since 2000. 
(Source: https://www.sccompetes.org/clusters-initiative/cluster/sc-tech-cybersec/)