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The Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:16 pm
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:16 pm
Full Disclosure: I hold a Bachelor of Science degree and I use it.
However, I agree with this article in part because of people from my generation (I graduated in the late 1990s) who were told that there is a shortage of STEM majors in the world. We studied in those fields and positioned ourselves in many of the jobs which are now scarce. Additionally, the older generation hasn't retired as quickly as previous generations, which only makes it more difficult for the latest generation of STEM majors.
What say ye?
The Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage
Oh, and
However, I agree with this article in part because of people from my generation (I graduated in the late 1990s) who were told that there is a shortage of STEM majors in the world. We studied in those fields and positioned ourselves in many of the jobs which are now scarce. Additionally, the older generation hasn't retired as quickly as previous generations, which only makes it more difficult for the latest generation of STEM majors.
What say ye?
The Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage
quote:
Everyone knows that the United States has long suffered from widespread shortages in its science and engineering workforce, and that if continued these shortages will cause it to fall behind its major economic competitors. Everyone knows that these workforce shortages are due mainly to the myriad weaknesses of American K-12 education in science and mathematics, which international comparisons of student performance rank as average at best.
Such claims are now well established as conventional wisdom. There is almost no debate in the mainstream. They echo from corporate CEO to corporate CEO, from lobbyist to lobbyist, from editorial writer to editorial writer. But what if what everyone knows is wrong? What if this conventional wisdom is just the same claims ricocheting in an echo chamber?
The truth is that there is little credible evidence of the claimed widespread shortages in the U.S. science and engineering workforce. How can the conventional wisdom be so different from the empirical evidence? There are of course many complexities involved that cannot be addressed here. The key points, though, are these:
Science and engineering occupations are at the leading edge of economic competitiveness in an increasingly globalized world, and science and engineering workforces of sufficient size and quality are essential for any 21st century economy to prosper. These professional workforces also are crucial for addressing challenges such as international security, global climate change, and domestic and global health. While they therefore are of great importance, college graduates employed in science and engineering occupations (as defined by the National Science Foundation) actually comprise only a small fraction of the workforce.
Oh, and
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:20 pm to Sophandros
The government snatches them all up.
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:20 pm to Sophandros
Engineering plus an MBA = $$$$$$
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:23 pm to Sophandros
I think the shortage is artificial to get more people into engineering school so that they begin to occupy jobs which were previously not considered by degreed engineers (read: "field engineers")
I think the big whigs are looking to saturate the job market
I think the big whigs are looking to saturate the job market
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:24 pm to Sophandros
there is definitely competition for most jobs in these fields.
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:24 pm to Sophandros
quote:
Not automatic.
Well duh, nothing is automatic but a lot of these top companies are looking for raw intellectual power.
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:25 pm to Sophandros
I do a good bit of hiring in the engineering ranks and have to say, I don't have any trouble finding applicants...
finding qualified individuals who can actually pass a simple drug test is a different story, though...
finding qualified individuals who can actually pass a simple drug test is a different story, though...
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:26 pm to reb13
quote:
a lot of these top companies are looking for raw intellectual power
And a wholeeeeeeeeeee lot of them are looking for a degreed engineer to be a glorified mechanic.
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:27 pm to Sophandros
quote:
The Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage
FINALLY, English Lit with the COMEBACK!!
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:28 pm to Spankum
quote:
finding qualified individuals who can actually pass a simple drug test is a different story, though...
LEGALIZE MJ!
FREE BOOSIE!
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:31 pm to Sophandros
I had zero problem finding internship. They came to me in fact
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:31 pm to Spankum
quote:Really?
finding qualified individuals who can actually pass a simple drug test is a different story, though
You'd think someone with a college degree would be able to figure out that companies drug test nowadays. Hell, I had to do one to work at a 4wd truck shop
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:40 pm to Sophandros
Sounds to me like the free market system continues to operate nicely.
In the wake of Woodward and Bernstein's take-down of Richard Millhous Nixon, I followed the excitement and perceived glamour of the news industry and went to Journalism school. Figured out pretty quickly at work that I was getting x/hr -- with a line of jokers at the front door who would take my job in a heartbeat -- when some other joker was getting paid at least 10x/hr to fix our rinky-dink equipment. Took some classes, read some books and now I'm that guy (reference my username).
TL,DR: Money = good. Follow the money.
In the wake of Woodward and Bernstein's take-down of Richard Millhous Nixon, I followed the excitement and perceived glamour of the news industry and went to Journalism school. Figured out pretty quickly at work that I was getting x/hr -- with a line of jokers at the front door who would take my job in a heartbeat -- when some other joker was getting paid at least 10x/hr to fix our rinky-dink equipment. Took some classes, read some books and now I'm that guy (reference my username).
TL,DR: Money = good. Follow the money.
Posted on 3/30/14 at 5:52 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
I think the big whigs are looking to saturate the job market
I think it's pretty close to saturation right now, which means that some of these guys and gals are going to have to look to other fields where they can use their skill sets.
The good thing for STEM majors is that they generally have good problem solving and other critical thinking skills, and as someone else noted, they can do well pairing it with a business degree.
There are a lot of options out there, basically.
Posted on 3/30/14 at 7:09 pm to Sophandros
Here's another read, this time about vocational training
We see that attitude on this site far too often, and it's refreshing to see someone else talk about the need for vocational skills.
College isn't for everyone and there is nothing wrong with a "blue collar" job.
All jobs have value, and it's time that we stop putting some of them down.
quote:
1) Another thing that Boomers must answer for. A reader writes:
I think many baby boomer and younger parents in this country don't take vocational training seriously because that's not what we were steered into and the college path has now become the norm. Too many feel that a vocational career isn't important/rewarding/prestigious. The large majority of my high school graduating class had parents who were only high school graduates. Earning a living was paramount and college wasn't available to them. They pushed us into college "to be something".
Now we are seeing how difficult it is to find a great electrician or plumber or auto mechanic. Luckily my husband and I finally found great ones, but only after much searching and asking neighbors for recommendations.
My dad was a tool and die maker. He made parts for the space shuttle and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, among other things, working predominantly in platinum and gold. I regularly see want ads for people in this trade, and just recently found our local community college has expanded its curriculum to fill these positions.
Probably the best thing about having a dad who worked with his hands was how much I learned from him. I know my way around tools and am able to fix most things without calling for help.
I am not saying vocational training shouldn't include college. Higher education needs to be formulated around the requirements of society. We need educated auto mechanics, electricians and plumbers.
We see that attitude on this site far too often, and it's refreshing to see someone else talk about the need for vocational skills.
College isn't for everyone and there is nothing wrong with a "blue collar" job.
All jobs have value, and it's time that we stop putting some of them down.
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