If the nine-parish Capital Region is to fully take advantage of the expected economic boom in the coming years, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber says, the education and business communities need to work in tandem to better prepare a workforce trained in STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—fields.
“This will require the effort of a variety of stakeholders, including primary, secondary, and postsecondary educators and administrators, students, parents, business leaders, and economic development professionals,” reads a BRAC research paper titled “Taking Advantage of the Boom: A Strategic Plan for Cultivating a STEM Workforce in the Capital Region,” released this morning.
Currently, the paper says, there’s not enough focus on STEM education in Capital Region schools and area students’ average ACT scores are falling below state and national benchmarks for math and science competency. In 2013 alone, the paper says, the Capital Region saw the creation of 3,420 new STEM jobs, while the area’s colleges and universities produced just 2,140 graduates ready to take those jobs.
To meet the anticipated demand for STEM-skilled workers with two-year degrees and industry certificates, BRAC says the Louisiana Community and Technical College System will need to increase certificate and degree completions by 217%. University systems in the state, meanwhile, will need to increase the number of four-year degrees they award in STEM fields by 45%.
BRAC outlines recommendations in the report, saying that better preparing area students for STEM-related fields starts with increasing their awareness, interest and participation in such areas. More effective STEM teachers and leaders are also needed, BRAC says, as well as more engagement between the education and business communities.
“Preparing a STEM-skilled regional workforce requires that the education sector and the business community work in tandem to maintain high standards and a tight exchange of regional workforce data,” reads the report’s conclusion. “Several promising efforts are underway at state, regional, and local levels to close high-demand workforce gaps. However, low levels of achievement and educational attainment, a lack of awareness of workforce needs in the education sector, and the lack of a common vision between education leaders and the business community are barriers to success.” See the complete report. —Steve Sanoski
