STEM Education, four stamps that celebrate the role that science, technology, engineering and math collectively play in keeping the United States a global leader in innovation, will be released Friday, April 6.
Proficiency in the STEM disciplines is considered critical. Studies suggest the nation is facing a lack of qualified workers to fill STEM jobs in the years ahead, prompting government, business and other leaders to call for wider access to STEM education.
STEM proponents point to the contributions these disciplines make to health care, the environment, national security and other areas.
STEM workers also enjoy pay advantages compared to workers with similar education levels in other fields, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. Among those with some college education, the typical full-time, year-round STEM worker earns $54,745, while a similarly educated non-STEM worker earns 26 percent less.
The STEM Education stamps feature four designs, one for each discipline. Each design depicts a collage of faces, symbols, drawings and numbers that represent the complexity and interconnectedness of the STEM subjects.
The stamps are available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
