Seven of the top 10 children's dream jobs are in STEM

Seven of the top 10 children's dream jobs are in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths), but 50 per cent of students think the subject is too difficult or boring to study, according to new research by the Royal Institution's L'Oréal Young Scientist Centre.

The Centre commissioned the One Poll survey of 1,000 children aged 6-16 and the results highlight a worrying disparity between children's career aspirations and their study choices.

The top ten dream careers for children have been revealed as:
1. Professional Athlete
2. Performer
3. Secret Agent
4. Fire fighter
5. Astronaut
6. Veterinarian
7. Doctor
8. Teacher
9. Pilot
10. Zoo Keeper

A vet, a doctor, a pilot, astronaut and a zoo keeper were amongst the exciting careers in STEM voted as dream careers. Despite this, almost half of children (49.4 per cent) think that STEM subjects are too difficult or boring to study, posing a huge barrier to them achieving their dream career. A further 15 per cent think that STEM careers are only relevant to those doing medicine whilst 15 per cent think they will fail if they don't get straight As.

David Porter, Manager of the Royal Institution's L'Oréal Young Scientist Centre commented: "Face to face careers guidance is extremely important, but this survey shows that students are not all receiving the right guidance to lead them in the right direction."

When quizzed on words the children most associate with science, the top suggestions were the more traditional associations such as ‘experiments', ‘lab coats' and ‘the periodic table'. The newer, sometimes more relevant and exciting associations with science such as ‘space', ‘the Internet', ‘weather' and ‘sport performance' were much lower down on the list for the children surveyed.

"It's incredibly encouraging that so many STEM careers are appealing to students, but the disconnect between studying the subjects required and aspiring to a career in STEM is huge. Science as a subject is expanding, and we need to communicate the exciting possibilities studying it can open up. Unfortunately, teachers don't have the time or confidence that careers experts do to communicate this, which is why events like the Big Bang Fair and centres like the L'Oréal Young Scientist Centre are so important in helping to bridge the gap."

The National STEM Centre are running a course with the National Science Learning Centre on the 28 May 2012 to explore how awareness can be raised about exciting STEM career opportunities available to young people. Find out more.