Communications of the ACM
Solving Bottlenecks in STEM Employment
Credit: The Pitt News
Ever since the "Digital Revolution," which started with the adoption of the first digital computers in the 1950s, computing power has doubled every two years without fail. Those most equipped to harness this power are students and employees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations.
But despite the apparent demand, STEM vacancies are difficult to fill. A 2014 Brookings Institution study concluded that filling a STEM position takes more than twice as long as any other. The most likely explanation is a lack of qualified candidates, the study noted.
One piece of this odd puzzle is the fact that almost three-fourths of all STEM graduates with bachelor's degrees end up working in non-STEM occupations, where their STEM educations are being wasted.
Another caveat: Recent STEM graduates entering the labor market are competing with those laid off during the Great Recession. This creates a vast pool of new STEM graduates with no hands-on experience. Compounding the problem, their degrees are often not well-matched to the open positions.
From RealClearEducation
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