Latest news with #NACE
Tahawul Tech
6 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Harnessing power of AI, edge, and private wireless to boost oil and gas operations
Corrosion costs the oil and gas industry around $1.372 billion a year, according to a National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Study. But what if you could harness the power of AI to orchestrate and enhance your current systems if any or put in place alerts and automated responses to detect and manage the earliest signs, long before a leak, shutdown, or a costly environmental incident occurs? Imagine every pipeline, tank, and inch of your distribution network constantly monitored by connected AI-driven sensors, transmitting data analysed in real-time by smart, large language models to detect and alert you before corrosion can take hold. There's no need to wait for the results of periodic inspections and manually schedule maintenance windows to repair visible damage – automatic alerts are sent to your operations teams, prioritising their work instructions based on critical routes, severity, and risk. It's not just humans who receive alerts; at the first signs of corrosion, your system instructs drones and robots or even use new fixed wireless cameras to be deployed in specific areas to scan infrastructure and identify cracks and vulnerabilities that human inspections may miss. It uses historical data and predictive modeling to forecast potential issues, proactively shaping worker inspection schedules for more efficient resource allocation. Digital twins allow you to simulate corrosion and test new repair strategies to minimise downtime and prolong asset lifecycles without the cost, fuel consumption, and vehicle wear and tear that occur when teams are dispatched on-site. Every enterprise must harness the power of its operational data and use AI to solve challenges and achieve goals faster. For the oil and gas industry, tackling corrosion proactively is a compelling use case. The NACE figure doesn't just cover the cost of replacing parts and components, it includes production losses and environmental impact too. In an industry under pressure to improve its environmental credentials, this elevated level of operational intelligence will transform fragmented efforts into strategic, real-time capabilities. So, how can oil and gas companies attain this next level of operational intelligence? Many have taken the first step toward digitally transforming their business, using robust, reliable 4G and 5G private wireless, which Wi-Fi can complement in certain areas for an extra capacity boost, to deliver mission-critical asset connectivity and access operational data. These industrial enterprises are beginning to produce and collect the massive amounts of data that AI needs to thrive, but it must be able to access it in a cohesive, uniform, and timely way. Solving the data challenge with devices, connectivity and an industrial edge The challenge lies in the number of systems that companies rely on. Looking at the way corrosion detection is managed as an example, it requires a complex patchwork of often siloed systems and teams for investigation, inspection, maintenance, repair, and compliance. Systems that leverage different communications protocols don't speak the same language, meaning manual effort is required to analyse data and manipulate it into a standard format to identify potential corrosion hotspots. Delays occur when relying on manual inspections, which can take days to weeks to complete. Once discovered, corrosion could have already caused significant degradation. The transition towards the new way of working, leveraging AI to analyse and act on data across your systems and use it to automate and orchestrate corrosion detection, analysis, and repair, can only be achieved by collecting, harmonising and analysing comprehensive, real-time data from across your plant. This represents the next level of industrial digitalisation and must incorporate a unified, ecosystem-neutral industrial edge computing platform that integrates into existing technology environments. Leveraging an industrial edge, enterprises can overcome the hurdles of unifying old and new assets to gain a holistic view of operational data and deliver support for Gen AI. It allows data to be processed and analysed in real-time, on-premises, and made available for consumption by applications for process optimisation through predictive maintenance, automated alerts, and more. In short, by implementing a digitalisation platform that incorporates robust, reliable connectivity, including devices (cameras/sensors/gateways) that provide inputs through the mission-critical network, and an on-premises industrial edge, oil and gas operators can harness the full power of AI across a fully connected operation. They can stay ahead of corrosion, reduce costs, enhance safety, and avoid the environmental damage that can occur through leaks. 'Companies can begin using an industrial edge computing platform as an integral part of their digitalisation journey today. Those who act now will gain the competitive advantage.' Using AI to continuously monitor and analyse data from industrial equipment to detect patterns, for example, in pressure, temperature, or flow rates, oil and gas companies can optimise delivery, detect leaks and isolate sections automatically, and schedule predictive maintenance and general maintenance windows. AI can identify workarounds while situations are being managed, to limit the impact on customers and the environment and protect workers. Gaining an industry advantage It's not only the oil and gas industry that will benefit, of course – any industrial organisation will gain a competitive advantage using a digitalisation platform that incorporates wireless connectivity with an industrial edge. Lone worker safety can be enhanced at mines, ports, chemical manufacturing plants, and in any harsh industrial environment using AI to track and analyse biometric data from wearable devices. By detecting the early signs of stress or fatigue, alerts can be sent to workers advising them to rest or to first responder teams in extreme situations. AI will also assist industries with onboarding and worker training, and allow new workers to interact with systems more intuitively to manage their workloads more effectively. The other angle for gaining industry advantage is now the possibility of getting into autonomous operations or tele-remote operations, a reality happening today in several industries utilising the power of the digitalisation platform to enhance assets and protecting workers. With every data reading and decision captured, companies can demonstrate how their actions enhance productivity, safety, and sustainability, as they maintain compliance. Studies have found that 79% of the early adopters of private wireless networks incorporating industrial edge platforms and digitalisation technologies see at least a 10% reduction in their emissions, while 75% improve their productivity by 10% or more, and all see a return on their investment within two years. As new use cases emerge and more data is produced, a flexible edge compute and AI will support enterprises as they locate processing capabilities at the far edge, where data is generated. This will ensure they can maintain support for mission-critical applications even as their data and connectivity demands evolve. This opinion piece is authored by Mahmoud El-Banna, Head of Enterprise Campus Edge, Middle East, Africa, and India, Nokia.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Graduated together, paid unequally: Why do American women early in their careers still make 18% less than men?
They took the same classes, wore the same cap and gown, and stepped into the workforce with equal ambition. Yet, within months of graduation, the numbers already tell two different stories: American women early in their careers are earning, on average, just 82 cents for every dollar their male peers make. A new analysis by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) lays bare the persistent gender pay gap that emerges right after graduation, and doesn't fade over time. Even among full-time professionals who earned their bachelor's degrees in the last seven years (2017–2023), women's average salary was $63,822, compared to $78,114 for men. A pay gap that starts early The 18% gap closely mirrors findings from NACE's First Destination Survey for the Class of 2023, where women graduates earned just 80% of what men earned. What's more striking is that this gap remains steady across the first decade of work, pointing to structural inequities rather than temporary fluctuations. Experts say this isn't just about starting salaries, it's about career trajectories, industry choices, and opportunity access that differ sharply by gender. Why the gap? It's not about effort One of the clearest culprits is occupational segregation: the fact that men and women tend to enter different industries after graduation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo According to NACE: Men are more likely to be in manufacturing, finance, and engineering: industries with higher average pay. Women are overrepresented in education, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors, which tend to pay less despite similar qualification levels. Additionally, only 53% of women were employed full-time six months after graduation compared to 60% of men, with more women pursuing further education (23% vs. 19%). Equal starts, unequal strides Interestingly, when asked about job satisfaction, men and women reported similar levels: around one-third said they were extremely satisfied, and about half were somewhat satisfied. But when it came to how fast they felt their careers were progressing, men were slightly more likely to say their growth exceeded expectations. The reasons for career acceleration also split along gender lines: Men cited networks, leadership roles, and graduate degrees. Women pointed to mentorship and professional development as key drivers. This suggests that women may rely more on institutional support, while men are more likely to benefit from informal networks and positional power—forms of social capital that are harder for women to access early on. What can colleges and employers do? The findings paint a clear picture: Equal graduation doesn't mean equal opportunity. So what can be done? For educators and career services: Provide industry-specific salary data and negotiation training for all students, especially women. Expand mentorship programs with access to alumni and industry leaders. Normalise conversations around career confidence, not just career choices. For employers: Audit starting salaries and raise transparency around pay bands. Offer structured internal growth paths so women aren't left guessing their next move. Recognise that mentorship and networks are critical forms of equity, and actively support them. Bottom line: It starts on day one The gender pay gap is not just a late-career issue. As the NACE data shows, it's baked into the first steps of a graduate's professional life. Addressing it requires more than policy—it demands cultural shifts, targeted support, and intentional equity. Because if they graduated together, they deserve to rise together too. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Fast Company
11-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Ghosted by internship hiring managers? Here's a guide to creating your own experiential learning summer project
American college students have been scrambling to land summer internships this year. The process has been notoriously difficult, as more and more companies lean into AI—and lay off employees. Many entry-level opportunities have vanished. But a paid, full-time internship in your chosen industry is not the only worthwhile experience you can have this summer. The National Association of Colleges and Employers says that those who participate in experiential learning—a category including internships, externships, research projects, practicums, and micro-internships—both garner more job options and land a higher starting salary. Experiential learning extends beyond 'traditional' paid internships, yet still benefits those who take the initiative. In their early careers, experiential learners typically experience faster career progression, higher career satisfaction, more satisfaction with their university experience, and an average of $15,000 more in salary. Create your own plan Uncertainty about the economy has increased caution at corporations, as hiring managers slow down timelines and are more conservative with hiring. Cindy Meis, director of the undergraduate career services at the Tippie School of Business, University of Iowa, says that even if students are 'doing everything right,' they still might not be getting results from their search. Students who feel thwarted by the traditional internship route can still create their own plan. According to Meis, you can make almost anything a meaningful experience—you simply have to figure out how to formalize it. 'Think through how [your experience] can translate into numerical, tangible, transferable skills,' Meis says. 'So whatever it is you decide to do, I want it to be meaningful, planned, and deliberate.' Here's how to plan out the rest of the summer—and create a meaningful experience for yourself—without a traditional summer internship. Networking You don't need a formal internship to expand your contacts. Create a networking goal for the summer, whether that's a coffee chat every week with an alumni of your school who works in an interesting field, or a networking event once a month. Utilize LinkedIn or your school's alumni networking platform to locate individuals you want to speak to. Typically, your school's alumni will be receptive to offering help, support, or advice, so it's often okay to send a cold email or LinkedIn message to someone you would like to speak to Before your meeting, ask yourself: What do I want to know about this career in this industry? What do I want to know about this person's professional path? You can also reach out for feedback on your résumé, or even to job-shadow someone for a day (the formalized—key word here—version of this is called an externship). Optimizing your summer job Many college students discount the jobs they hold over the summer as meaningful experience. If you're a camp counselor, you can focus on the work you did to develop programming, handle unhappy parents, and deal with incidents. If you're a barista, focus on the teamwork with your coworkers, your customer service skills, and your ability to memorize and execute hundreds of coffee orders a day. According to Meis, you should think about every single thing you did in your job, and what things can apply to your target industry. Often, students forget about most of the things they did on a daily basis that might demonstrate important skills. These experiences are every bit as meaningful as anything you'll gain from an internship. 'I think sometimes half my job is being a cheerleader,' Meis says. 'I want to know every little detail.' Upskilling LinkedIn Learning is a great resource to develop other job skills that will benefit you in the future, Meis says. Students can even get certificates proving to future employers that they have the job's most relevant skills. LinkedIn Learning has a multitude of courses available to those with a premium membership, which is available as a free trial for 30 days. It offers everything from Grammar Foundations and Using Generative AI Ethically at Work to Javascript: Classes. Connecting with your college career advisor If you're a rising sophomore, junior, or senior, you can always contact the career advisor at your institution for a conversation. Career advisors are typically available in the summer, and you can always use them as a resource for help creating a plan. It's never too early or too late to chat, says Meis. 'I'm going to meet you where you're at, and it might be too late to get the traditional internship that you wanted,' Meis says. 'But it's not too late to have a plan or to pivot or to make an adjustment because something didn't work out.'
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Why economics graduates struggle to secure high-paying jobs
The current trends in the corporate world at the advent of the AI revolution suggest that it has become highly volatile and unpredictable and is poised to evolve further. Established organisations as well as startups are leveraging data analytics services and AI and ML for automation. In such times, economics graduates, once highly in demand for their quantitative prowess, find it difficult to adapt to the changing patterns of employment in corporate jobs, which have become very competitive and require skills like data analytics, understanding of the ML algorithms, Power BI, SQL and Python. Though the skills can be learnt easily, unfortunately they are not incorporated in the economics curricula at the university level. Economics departments are hesitant to incorporate these skill based courses over the traditional courses which constitute the core of the curricula. It is because of this that students find themselves in a situation where they have to learn these skills in an unsystematic manner from random online platforms. The internet is flooded with courses on data analytics and data science, power BI, and Python, which don't serve the purpose as the majority of such content is pre-recorded and doesn't allow interaction with the instructors. This resistance shown at university departments to change their curricula and incorporate skill based courses has lowered the employability of economics graduates in the corporate world. In the age of AI revolution where companies are automating basic operations, the graduates would have to acquire advanced skills to stay industry relevant and employable. Global skill mismatch between economics graduates and what industry wants Corporates, especially in the area of consulting, marketing research, and finance, are seeking graduates with a proficiency in coding (R, Python, SQL and Power BI) for financial modelling, data visualization and skills to convert data into interactive dashboards. The traditional economics programs unevenly emphasize on the theoretical aspect of economics with minimal exposure to software and simulation, and nearly zero exposure to real time data handling techniques. As highlighted by the Institute for Competitiveness, in India, only 8.25% of economics graduates are able to secure jobs which are aligned with their studies. Similar trends are reported in other parts of the world, where employers' reveal that economics graduates lack hands-on experience with real time data handling and problem solving. A report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE, 2023) from the United States highlights that only 42% of economics graduates were able to get jobs in their relevant fields within the first six months of their graduation. Similarly, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), United Kingdom, reported that economics graduates earn 20% less than their computer science and engineering counterparts.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
College graduate salaries: 2025 projections
Bachelor-degree holders can make about 66% more than high school graduates, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The highest upward salary trends are in the agriculture, business, engineering and computer science fields. Disparities still exist based on age, race and gender: women, racial minorities and older workers make less. This year's college graduates face mixed earnings growth, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). But average college graduate salary projections are up for bachelor's degrees in engineering, computer science, business and agriculture/natural resources. Data shows that college remains one of the best paths to well-paying jobs. Bachelor's degree holders earn on average 66 percent more than high school graduates. This may be one reason why over a third of U.S. adults (35 percent) consider getting a college degree part of the American Dream, according to Bankrate's Home Affordability Survey. But college is expensive, and not all careers are equally profitable. The average projected starting salary in the U.S. for the class of 2025 at the bachelor's degree level is $68,680, according to an analysis of NACE data. Overall hiring projections for the class of 2025 are up 7.3% from last year. Engineering majors have the highest projected salary for the class of 2025 at $78,731, followed by computer science majors with a projected salary of $76,251. Agriculture and natural resources majors have the highest projected salary jump (2.8%), going from $61,399 in 2024 to $63,122 in 2025. Careers that call for higher skill and education levels pay significantly more than jobs that do not. BLS data show those with a bachelor's degree average 66 percent more earnings per week than those with just a high school diploma. Those with a professional degree, on the other hand, earn about 53 percent more than bachelor's degree holders. Education level Median weekly earnings Median annual salary Doctoral degree $2,278 $118,456 Professional degree $2,363 $122,876 Master's degree $1,840 $95,680 Bachelor's degree $1,543 $80,236 Associate degree $1,099 $57,148 Some college, no degree $1,020 $53,040 High school diploma, no college $930 $48,360 Less than a high school diploma $738 $38,376 Hiring projections were up this year as of January 2025, according to NACE. More than half of surveyed U.S. employers (57.1 percent) expect to maintain the number of college graduate hires steady, while over a quarter (27 percent) will increase hires. Only a small percentage (15.9 percent) expect to reduce hires compared to previous years. What's more, bachelor's degree earners in the Class of 2025 will have higher starting salaries depending on major, according to NACE data. Agriculture and natural resources majors will experience the highest salary jump, with a slight projected increase of 2.8%. Humanities previously had the highest increase at 28.9% but it has now been dropped from the table. Engineering and computer science, as well as math and science are the top paid, despite modest growth or decreases. Social science and communications took the largest dips for earnings. Major 2025 Starting salary projections Change from 2024 salary projections Engineering $78,731 2.6% Computer sciences $76,251 2.0% Math and sciences $69,709 -1.9% Social sciences $67,316 -3.6% Business $65,276 2.1% Agriculture and natural resources $63,122 2.8% Communications $60,353 -3.0% College graduates, on average, out-earn high school graduates. As mentioned, college graduates make 66% more weekly than high school graduates. Education is important across the board, as high school graduates can earn more than $10,000 annually over non-graduates, according to the U.S. Career Institute. Weekly, high school graduates earn a median amount of $930 compared to $1,543 for workers with a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. Those with a master's degree earn a median weekly pay of $1,840, while those with a professional degree earn $2,363 weekly. Annually, high school graduates earn a median salary of $48,360 and bachelor's degree graduates earn a median salary of $80,236. Legislation like the Equal Pay Act aims to reduce systemic inequalities within the U.S. job market. Despite these endeavors, the racial and gender pay gaps persist. Both women and minorities — particularly Hispanic and Black graduates — earn less than their peers. 'We know that the gender pay gap and the racial pay gap — and intersections of those — are still a feature broadly of our labor market,' says Mary Gatta, Nace's director of research and public policy. 'It is important for students to really work hard on preparing for salary negotiations. Obviously, we have to continue to work on closing the pay gap across race and gender on the employer side as well and through public policy.' The gaps exist even if you control for seasonal and part-time labor. The salary numbers below are for full-time, year-round workers. Salary typically increases with age and experience up to a point. Median salaries tend to rise until age 44, when they start to drop. Age Median annual salary 20 to 24 $41,184 25 to 34 $58,500 35 to 44 $69,264 45 to 54 $71,552 55 to 64 $67,704 65 and older $63,544 On average, female graduates earn less than their male counterparts. The difference is $14,976 (27 percent) for associate degree graduates, $22,152 (27.3 percent) for bachelor's degree graduates and $29,016 (28.1 percent) for graduates with a master's degree or higher. Gender (age 25+) Associate degree or some college median annual earnings Bachelor's degree median annual earnings Advanced degree median annual earnings Male $62,868 $92,040 $117,572 Female $47,892 $69,888 $88,556 Racial salary disparities have also persisted in the U.S. economy. White and Asian workers earn significantly more than Black and Hispanic workers across all levels of education. The gap is particularly large between Asian and Hispanic full-time workers with a master's degree or higher. Asian workers earn a median income of $107,290, while Hispanic workers earn a median of just $62,290 — a 53 percent difference. Race/ethnicity (age 25-34) Associate degree median annual earnings Bachelor's degree median annual earnings Master's degree or higher median annual earnings Asian $52,170 $81,420 $107,290 Black $46,950 $56,030 $68,970 Hispanic $45,770 $57,100 $62,290 White $50,930 $70,250 $78,700 With college affordability still an issue for millions of Americans, many turn to student loans when other aid falls short. In fact, 51 percent of college undergraduates leave college with student loan debt. Bankrate's Money and Mental Health Survey found money negatively impacts the mental health of close to half of U.S. adults (43 percent), causing issues like increased stress, depression, sleep loss and anxiety. If you borrowed money to pay for school, there are a few ways to manage your debt effectively to avoid it from negatively impacting your life and finances. Apply for income-driven repayment If you have federal student loans, applying for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan is one way you can make your monthly bill more affordable. These plans base your payment amount on your household size and income. In some cases, payments can be as low as $0. Employer assistance programs Employers are allowed to offer tax-free benefits up to $5,250 a year in student loan repayment assistance to qualifying employees. Though not every company offers this, it's worth asking your HR or benefits department whether yours does. State assistance programs Depending on your career and where you live, you may be eligible for repayment assistance from your state. Your state may forgive part of your balance or help you with a portion of your payments. Student loan refinancing Though you can refinance both federal and private student loans, this option is best suited for the latter. When you refinance federal student loans, they turn into private loans, so you lose access to IDR plans, administrative forbearance and federal forgiveness programs. Refinancing private student loans could lower your interest rate, monthly payments — or both — depending on your credit score and income, making your debt more manageable. Despite degree-based hiring trends taking a dip, median college graduate earnings still outpace those of high school graduates. College graduates earn more than 50% of what high school graduates do. The market still reflects age, race and gender disparities. If you need to finance the cost of education, look into employer and state assistance. You might also be able to refinance the loan. What's the difference between median and average salary? If you have all the salaries in your data lined up in order, the median is the salary that lands right in the middle. Exactly half of the salaries are over the median point and half are under. The average salary is what you get when you add all salaries and then divide by the total number of data points. Median data points tend to reflect trends better, as they cannot be as easily skewed by outlier numbers like averages. Does the average salary by age go up or down? Unfortunately, trends in salaries rise before a certain age and then start to trend down. According to the BLS, salaries tend to peak at ages 45 to 54, and then trend downward beginning at age 55. Does the average salary by education level vary by occupation? Yes, NACE data shows graduates with certain majors outearning those with other degrees. For instance, despite all having bachelor's degrees, engineering students out-earn communications students by over $18,000 annually as part of 2025 projections. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
