Out Educate: Educating Our Workforce

U.S. Competitiveness & Innovative Capacity EDUCA IING O UR Out Educate R K F ORC E Education is central to both fostering innovation and to increasing living standards. The specific skills embodied in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education fuel the innovative processes that are especially valuable to our economy. For this reason, these skills are sought by companies across the economy as they look to expand their workforces. It is critical that our education system support the continued training of all future and current workers and that it not just prepare our future STEM workforce but also impart the core skills that characterize the STEM workforce, drive innovation, and are increasingly sought by businesses across sectors. On average, workers in STEM fields with a bachelor's degree earn... The STEM Workforce is Expanding Our nation's STEM workforce numbered 7.6 million in 2010 and grew three 27.0% times as fast as the non-STEM workforce between 2000 and 2010. Looking ahead over the decade ending 2018, STEM employment is expected to continue to grow at a faster rate than non-STEM employment. more than workers in other fields with a bachelor's degree. STEM Performance in our Nation's Schools* POLICY INITIATIVES United States %I The following Administration initiatives are meant to address cracks in the education “building block" of OECD Average %I 500 American innovation: •Address STEM shortcomings Widening Implementation and Demonstration of Evidence based Reforms (WIDER) 490 NSF Career- Life Balance Initiatives •Make college more affordable American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) Federal Funding in Community Cdlleges •Encourage students' and workers' continued STEM education DID YOU KNOWW? ow? 480 Despite making up nearly half of the workforce, Race to the Top 470 women hold less than 2003 2006 2009 2003 2006 2009 25% of STEM jobs. Mathematics Science *Source: OECD, PISA 2003, 2006, and 2009 databases Prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce in consultation with the National Economic Council