​The fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are crucial to the growth and innovation of various industries. However, there is a notable shortage in the United States of skilled workers in these areas, posing challenges for economic development and competitiveness.
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One of the core reasons that the poor and middle class are losing ground economically in the United States is that our primary educational system is not properly preparing the majority of our next generations of Americans to effectively compete in the world that we live in today.
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In the United States, there are more than 8 million high-paying jobs in the technology sectors alone that we don't have qualified workers to fill; the real issue in our country is not the lack of manufacturing jobs, it lies in the shortage of qualified candidates for high-paying positions in science, technology, advanced manufacturing, and engineering.
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The Education Crisis: Why Many Americans Are Unprepared for 21st Century Jobs
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While many Americans continue to focus on the loss of traditional manufacturing jobs, the real challenge is the lack of qualified workers for the jobs that exist today. The skills gap — especially in STEM fields — is holding us back from competing globally and keeping pace with modern industries.
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The United States’ educational system is failing to adequately prepare the next generation for the jobs that power today’s economy. For instance, a disturbing percentage of high school graduates lack the basic literacy and numeracy skills needed to succeed in the workforce:
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Reading Proficiency: According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), about 63% of high school graduates cannot perform at the "proficient" level in reading. This means they are unable to understand, analyze, and evaluate complex texts — a skill vital for high-paying roles in tech and other sectors.
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Mathematics Proficiency: Similarly, 76% of high school graduates fail to meet proficiency standards in math, which impacts their ability to solve problems and apply mathematical concepts — crucial skills for careers in science, technology, and engineering.
This lack of fundamental skills creates a significant barrier for Americans to fill the millions of high-paying, high-tech jobs currently available in the economy.
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A Growing Shortage of Skilled Workers in High-Tech Fields
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The reality is that the demand for skilled workers in high-tech industries is outpacing the supply. As of now, there are more than 8 million open positions in technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing sectors across the United States that remain vacant due to a lack of qualified candidates. These positions span a wide array of industries — from cybersecurity and software development to advanced manufacturing and robotics — yet our nation lacks the workforce needed to fill them.
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In fact, these are not just any jobs; these are high-paying, long-term career opportunities that could provide financial stability and growth for individuals and their families. Yet, without a strong education system focused on STEM training, the U.S. is failing to create the workforce that these industries require.
The Global Education Divide: Why We Are Falling Behind
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Countries like China, Singapore, and South Korea are outpacing the U.S. in math, science, and reading proficiency. For instance, Chinese students consistently rank higher than American students in international assessments like the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment). China's focus on STEM education has allowed their students to excel in these fields, positioning their workforce to thrive in industries like technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
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In contrast, the U.S. continues to slip behind. As of the most recent PISA rankings, American students are ranked 13th in reading, 18th in science, and 37th in math globally. This disparity highlights the urgent need for reforms to better prepare American students for the global economy.
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The High-Tech Jobs We’re Missing Out On
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While much attention is given to the decline of traditional manufacturing jobs, the real opportunity lies in high-tech sectors. For example, there are currently millions of unfilled roles in software development, cybersecurity, data science, and engineering — positions that offer some of the highest-paying jobs in the country.
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Software Development: The demand for skilled software developers is growing at an alarming rate, with over 300,000 unfilled positions in 2023 alone.
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Cybersecurity: As cyber threats continue to escalate, there is a 500,000-job shortage in cybersecurity roles, including network security, threat analysis, and ethical hacking.
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Data Science and Engineering: Fields like data science, machine learning, and engineering are similarly facing a massive skills gap, with hundreds of thousands of positions open in industries like robotics, automation, and healthcare technology.
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Despite these enormous opportunities, there simply aren’t enough qualified candidates to fill the demand. As a result, many companies are forced to look abroad for talent, further highlighting the critical need for better STEM education in the U.S.
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The Growing Dependence on Foreign Workers
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The skills gap in the U.S. has led to a growing reliance on foreign-born talent. As of recent reports, 25% of all high-tech jobs in the U.S. are filled by foreign workers — particularly in fields like software development, engineering, and data science. This translates to roughly 3 million high-tech jobs held by foreign-born workers, many of whom are recruited through specialized visa programs.
While foreign workers play a crucial role in filling the labor gap, the fact remains that millions of high-paying jobs could be filled by qualified American workers if the educational system was better aligned with the demands of today’s economy.
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The Reality of Income Disparity: A Call for Educational Reform​
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To address this crisis, we need a national shift in how we approach education. STEM education should be at the forefront of this transformation, alongside an emphasis on improving literacy and numeracy across all grade levels. Here's how we can start to bridge the gap:
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Invest in STEM education: Schools need to prioritize science, technology, engineering, and math education, from elementary through higher education.
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Focus on foundational skills: Strengthening reading and math proficiency is essential for all students to succeed in high-tech fields.
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Vocational and technical training: Not every student needs a four-year college degree. Expanding access to vocational programs and technical certifications will help prepare students for well-paying careers in fields like advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and data science.
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Industry partnerships: Schools, businesses, and government entities must work together to ensure that education aligns with real-world job market needs.
In today's global economy, many Americans aspire to earn high salaries, yet a significant challenge looms over this ambition: inadequate educational attainment. Alarmingly, proportion of our high school graduates cannot read or write at a high school level, and approximately 75% struggle with math at the same level. This situation raises critical questions about our workforce's readiness to compete on a global scale.
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As we look to compete against international workforces that are often better educated and willing to work for lower wages, the gap between aspiration and reality widens. Countries with robust educational systems produce workers who not only meet the demands of modern industries but also innovate and drive economic growth. Meanwhile, many American workers find themselves ill-equipped to take advantage of available high-paying jobs, particularly in fields like technology and advanced manufacturing.
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This disconnect between income expectations and educational achievement highlights an urgent need for reform. Investing in education—particularly in literacy and numeracy—should be a national priority. By improving access to quality education including STEM educations, and vocational training, we can equip future generations with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market.
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The conversation must shift from merely lamenting the loss of jobs to actively addressing the root causes of workforce inadequacy. If we want to compete on a global stage, we need to ensure that our workforce is prepared, educated, and capable of meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow. Only then can we hope to secure high-income opportunities for all Americans.
Preparing the Workforce of the Future
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To compete globally and maintain a high standard of living, the U.S. must address its education crisis head-on. While the loss of traditional manufacturing jobs has dominated headlines, the true issue lies in the lack of skilled workers for the high-tech, high-paying jobs that are already available in the economy.
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Investing in STEM education, improving foundational literacy and numeracy skills, and providing access to technical training will equip future generations with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market. If we can bridge this skills gap, we’ll not only fill the millions of unfilled high-tech positions but also ensure that Americans can compete successfully in an increasingly globalized world.
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By focusing on education, we can empower the next generation to take advantage of the limitless opportunities available in today’s economy — and create a workforce that can thrive in the 21st century.