With vaccines, virus variants and COVID clusters dominating the news, science may have never before had such a high profile than in the last two years. With Australia carefully watching politicians’ announcements regarding lockdowns, vaccine mandates and restrictions, state and federal leaders are turning to scientific professionals for guidance.
Scientific researchers, medical professionals and epidemiologists have suddenly been catapulted into the spotlight, with many amassing hundreds of thousands of followers, advising governments on pandemic policies, being interviewed on TV and, in some cases, receiving book deals. It seems that with the world in a state of instability and uncertainty, many are turning to science for not only answers, but also reassurance.
In fact, according to this year’s 3M State of Science Index, 90 percent of Australians either somewhat or completely agree with the statement “I trust science”, and 89 percent trust scientists – a higher percentage than many other nations.
Here, we look at what this data means for employers, and how they can use it to help shape their hiring strategy moving forward to create a sustainable workforce.
In science Australia trusts
The 3M State of Science Index measures public attitudes to science in 17 countries and, for the first time in 2021, it asked Australians for their views on science and its role in our lives. The survey found that not only do Australians resoundingly trust science, they also believe it strengthens the country and they want more investment in science to speed up our post-pandemic recovery.
Despite this being Australia’s first time participating in the survey, our country’s figures are in line with global averages, which have risen considerably. Across the 17 countries surveyed this year, 91 percent of people trust science (up five percentage points from 2018), while 86 percent trust scientists (up 7 percentage points).
“Since 3M started the State of Science Index four years ago, trust in science globally remains at the highest level we have recorded,” says Chris LeBlanc, managing director of 3M Australia. “The pandemic has put a spotlight on the positive impact science is having on our everyday lives.
“While the pandemic has been a truly unpredictable hurdle for people in Australia and around the world, we have had some remarkable achievements due to the power of science. People once considered to be hidden away in labs have become the heroes of our society.”
Embrace the younger, re-engaged STEM population
After hearing reports of a shrinking STEM industry, scientific employers will be pleased to hear that engagement in the industry has become reinvigorated, particularly amongst younger generations. 57 percent of Australians (and 64 percent of Australian parents) believe that during the pandemic, scientists and medical professionals are inspiring a new generation to pursue a science-based career in the future, and 92 percent of Australians agree the world needs more people pursuing STEM careers.
Despite this, the unemployment rates for young people in STEM with VET or university qualifications have increased since 2006. This is poignant for employers to consider when establishing a sustainable hiring strategy. Though younger employees may not have the level of experience as those who have worked in the industry for longer, within such a candidate-short market, being willing to take on entry-level candidates with transferable skills could be incredibly beneficial.
Address diversity disparity within your hiring strategy
Despite these positive perceptions, the public appears to be concerned with the diversity issue that has permeated the scientific industry for decades. Of those surveyed, 89 percent agree it’s important to increase diversity and inclusion within the industry, while 84 percent acknowledge more needs to be done to encourage and keep women and girls engaged in STEM education.
Women as a minority within STEM is well documented and, though the driving forces behind this underrepresentation are wide a varied, a lack of interest or aptitude in STEM is not the culprit. Women face a number of systemic challenges in society and the workforce that impact their engagement and experiences at work, such as spending more time than men performing unpaid care and domestic work, which limits the amount of time available for paid employment. Even women who work full-time in STEM earn less than their male counterparts on average, due to factors such as biased hiring practices, lack of workplace flexibility, and the tendency for women to have more time out of the workforce, impacting their opportunities for career progression.
Moving forward, it will be important for scientific employers to assess their diversity policies to ensure they are creating a safe and inclusive workplace culture. Furthermore, by addressing diversity imbalances within their workforce, employers will be in a better position to overcome the skills shortage within the scientific industry.
As specialists in the industry, Bayside Group’s consultants have in-depth knowledge of scientific employees’ unique workforce requirements. If you’re looking for scientific staff, contact Bayside Group today.
