Schools in Lincoln and Omaha are ramping up for start dates scattered all across this week and next. This time of the year is an exciting time, but can also be a bit of a bummer for all of the students busy enjoying their summers and time off from school.

Back-to-school time also means that it’s time for older high school students to start figuring out what they want to do with their lives.

For anyone who’s still unsure, it’s certainly worth giving manufacturing a look. There are a lot of great ways to get started in manufacturing here in Nebraska, and almost all of them lead to good-paying, stable jobs.

But if you think that manufacturing may be for you, we’re here with a little reminder: it’s important to focus on STEM skills if you want to have a successful career in manufacturing. Luckily, it’s easy to get involved by taking the right classes (and paying attention when you do).

You might be wondering exactly what STEM skills are.

STEM skills and education are broken down into four easy-to-remember categories:

1. Science
2. Technology
3. Engineering
4. Mathematics

These skills, sometimes individually, and sometimes collectively, are important skills in any technical field, from scientists and educators, to technicians, to manufacturers, to engineers. STEM skills are incredibly useful all across the board, but are especially useful for anyone who wants to excel in a manufacturing career.

STEM skills are so important because of the time we’re in: manufacturing is becoming much more advanced, meaning that jobs which used to require few skills now require lots of knowledge and skills in the STEM field (which is also part of the reason that manufacturing jobs command higher pay now than they did in the past).

And they’re not just good for manufacturing–they’re beneficial in almost every aspect of life, too. The way you think will change once you start focusing on STEM skills, and the knowledge you have can help you tackle more complex tasks than you could otherwise.

We highly encourage you to take action and start focusing on STEM skills. If you’re a student, that means actually paying attention in class (really!), if you’re a parent, that means encouraging your kids to put forth effort and time into honing their technical skills, and if you’re an educator, that means making things fun and interesting for all parties involved.

A strong focus on these skills will be beneficial for you all-around. What’s more, those students with strong skills in things like math will often command better-paying positions at manufacturing companies, because the work you’ll be able to do will be more technical than those without your skills.

So go out, sign up for your classes, and get motivated! You won’t regret it.

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photo credit: via