Tackling the STEM Problem

            Currently in the United States, we have a shortage of STEM-skilled workers, (workers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields). This shortage has created an industry with the highest paid salaries and the highest rates of employment. But, although there is plenty of financial opportunity to be had in these fields, students still aren’t majoring in them. This creates a problem for the country as a whole, because without the adequate amount of supply to meet the ever-increasing demand, companies have been forced to outsource jobs overseas. In countries like China and Japan where there is a much larger supply of these skilled workers, it has become a much more affordable and viable option to invest in hiring outside the country.

            The problem, as some people are starting to notice, is in the education system, which lacks the encouraging support for these fields from elementary up to college-level education. For instance, program developers are often finding that skipping college all together can be more beneficial for their career. Programmers, who get involved in practical projects early on rather than spending time studying theory in college, are finding themselves more prepared, than their post-graduate counterparts.

            So what are we doing to solve this problem? Well in the UK a similar shortage has occurred and one of their solutions is to encourage an interest in mathematics and science at an early age. At the moment, in the UK and the US public school elementary school teachers teach multiple subjects including, English, math, science, and social studies. However, in private school education, teachers specialize in one subject. So if a teacher majored in English in college, they only teach English in elementary schools, rather than also teaching subjects they may not enjoy or know as much about. The public school system in Britain will plan to have a similar set-up, so that similar to higher level education, every subject is taught by a teacher who specializes in it.

            Another solution you may start seeing as a new trend, is apprenticeships. This option is already a popular idea amongst most high school students and with companies as well. As with programmers, as mentioned earlier, it is often the case that college education can offer too general and theoretical knowledge, which may not be applicable entering the job field. An apprenticeship, however, may present as a better alternative to college, where right out of high school, students can learn specialized skills for a specific career.

            Other solutions are being put into development to boost interest in these fields, including a Khan Academy summer camp, giving kids an opportunity for hands-on experience with science and technology. As well as fellow students, already interested in these fields at a young age, trying to create more opportunities for kids to get involved in technology activities, for example, after school development clubs. Luckily, the focus has been on long term solutions to this problem. Much effort has been invested not just in the future STEM-skilled workers of the next five years, but in the next generation as a whole. Hopefully with continued effort and innovative thinking, we can restructure our education system to supply us with the workforce we need to become a more competitive market.