Into the Eye of the Storm: Assessing the Evidence on Science and Engineering Education, Quality, and Workforce Demand

51 Pages Posted: 2 Dec 2007

See all articles by Hal Salzman

Hal Salzman

Rutgers University; The Urban Institute

B. Lindsay Lowell

Georgetown University

Date Written: October 29, 2007

Abstract

Recent policy reports claim the United States is falling behind other nations in science and math education and graduating insufficient numbers of scientists and engineers. Review of the evidence and analysis of actual graduation rates and workforce needs does not find support for these claims. U.S. student performance rankings are comparable to other leading nations and colleges graduate far more scientists and engineers than are hired each year. Instead, the evidence suggests targeted education improvements are needed for the lowest performers and demand-side factors may be insufficient to attract qualified college graduates.

Keywords: STEM education, workforce supply, science and engineering

JEL Classification: E24, I20, I21, J21, J24

Suggested Citation

Salzman, Hal and Lowell, Briant Lindsay, Into the Eye of the Storm: Assessing the Evidence on Science and Engineering Education, Quality, and Workforce Demand (October 29, 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1034801 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1034801

Hal Salzman (Contact Author)

Rutgers University ( email )

E.J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy
J. J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
United States

HOME PAGE: http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/salzman/

The Urban Institute ( email )

2100 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
United States

Briant Lindsay Lowell

Georgetown University ( email )

Washington, DC 20007
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www12.georgetown.edu/sfs/isim/index.html

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