Closing the IT Skills Gap: The Challenge

THE Intersect GROUP CLOSING THE IT SKILLS GAP: THE CHALLENGE To bolster an improving economy, companies face one major challenge: The IT Skills Gap. Estimates show the "When everyone jumped on the outsourc- ing bandwagon, an unplanned conse- quence occurred in our educational system. Students didn't want to go into STEM majors because those jobs were going offshore. Fast forward 20 years and, consequently, businesses are faced with a constricted IT workforce." U.S. will have over 1.2 MILLION The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that by 2020, computer UNFILLED JOBS systems analyst jobs will grow by 20 to in science, technology, engineer- 28 percent, and computer programmer jobs will grow by 10 to 19 percent. - Wade Hughes, President and CEO, The Intersect Group ing, and math by 2018. THE IT EDUCATION GAP IT STARTS IN K-12 AND, CONTINUES TO COLLEGE.. % of high school students who graduate with calculus level math skills: 60 PERCENT 13% 25% of students enter college without the math skills needed for STEM majors. % of college graduates with a degree in computers, THERE HAS BEEN mathematics and statistics: A TREMENDOUS Public Schools Private Schools DROP OFF IN IT GRADUATES Far too few eighth graders have teachers who majored in math or science. 4.2% OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, IN SOME AREAS 10 FOLD. ONLY 19% OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ANY CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH PROGRAMS. One in every five jobs in the United States required a But, The Need for Graduates is Clear high level of knowledge in science, technology, If the United States is to maintain its historic pre-eminence in the STEM fields-science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, then it must produce appraximately one million ADDITIONAL workers in STEM-related fields over the next decade: engineering or math as of 2011. The Bottom Line A 33% INCREASE FROM CURRENT LEVELS. *The Off-shoring trend created a steep decline in STEM graduates and now companies can't find skilled local labor to fill the IT jobs. This only continues the vicious cycle. Education is the key to soving this issue. EVEN IN A TOUGH ECONOMY, STEM OPENS DOORS. In STEM occupations, job postings outnumbered unemployed people by almost 2-1. Wade Hughes, President and CEO, The Intersect Group SSOURCES: US News, Statistic Brain, Change The Equation, President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Census.gov, Fox Business