Developing a National STEM Workforce Strategy

The future competitiveness of the United States in an increasingly interconnected global economy depends on the nation fostering a workforce with strong capabilities and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM knowledge and skills enable both individual opportunity and national competitiveness, and the nation needs to develop ways of ensuring access to high-quality education and training experiences for all students at all levels and for all workers at all career stages. The National Science Foundation (NSF) holds a primary responsibility for overseeing the federal government's efforts to foster the creation of a STEM-capable workforce. As part of its efforts in this endeavor, NSF's Directorate on Education and Human Resources asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene a workshop that would contribute to NSF's preparation of a theoretical and evidence-based STEM Workforce Development R&D Core Framework. Participants discussed research themes, identified gaps and emerging research opportunities, and recommended refinements in the goals of the framework. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop. Table of ContentsFront Matter1 Introduction2 The STEM Workforce Landscape3 The Student and Recent Graduate Voice4 Key Challenges Facing U.S. Employers in High-Demand Fields5 Maintaining Student Interest in STEM6 Successful Strategies for Aligning Higher Education Programs, Curricula, and Lab Experiences with Workforce Needs7 Alternative Pathways and Alternative Providers8 K-12 STEM Education and Workforce Readiness9 Breakout Discussion Groups10 Potential Next StepsReferencesAppendixesAppendix A: Workshop AgendaAppendix B: Biographical Sketches of Workshop Speakers and Planning Committee MembersAppendix C: Anonymous Participant Responses to the Pre-summit QuestionAppendix D: List of Workshop Registrants