The U.S. needs to embrace postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) to create a robust pipeline for science and engineering jobs beyond those that require a baccalaureate — something that hasn’t been happening, according to a new report.
Trade and technical jobs and CTE continue to face a stigma in terms of families’ views of what a college education should be, which is leading to a shortage of electricians, welders, programmers and more, says the report from the National Science Board (NSB), which establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and serves as advisor to Congress and the president.
Too often, the public doesn’t know that a skilled technician workforce is critical to industries focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the report says.
“It’s in the nation’s interest that all Americans, including the two in three U.S. adults who do not have a bachelor’s degree, have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from our scientific and technological progress,” it says.