By 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts there will be more than 2 million new jobs in scientific, professional and technical services.
Management, scientific and technical consulting services will grow by another 78 percent, while computer systems design and other related services will grow by 38 percent.
However, the number of people who are earning bachelor degrees in science, technology, engineering and math has dropped by 3 percent, and nearly 9 percent for master's degrees since 1966, according to the National Science Foundation. Just over half of those degrees are conferred to U.S. citizens.
It is for reasons such as these that it is more important than ever to encourage students to stay in school, and continue on a career path after high school, said J. Domenic Giandomenico, director of education and work force programs for the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, which is affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"We need to work alongside people to improve education," Giandomenico said.
He spoke Tuesday morning to a group of business, education and community leaders at a Champions of Education forum.
"Catawba County is ranked 606th out of 788 counties in the U.S. in attainment of an associate's degree or higher," he said, citing information from the U.S. Census. "We need a good, quality worker.
Only 47 percent of Americans know that lasers are beams of light, not sound."
Giandomenico also addressed Catawba County's PSAT participation rate.
"Catawba County's PSAT rate is half the national average. That needs to go up if those students want to go to college," he said.
He said school leaders should encourage students to take college-level courses.
"When kids get college credit, they're more likely to go to college," Giandomenico said. "It boosts their esteem, because it shows them, 'hey, I can do this (college), I already have.'"
He suggested ways business leaders could get involved in schools beyond volunteering in the classroom.
"If you have land, let it be a garden for the school. If you have a warehouse, let it be a science lab or start a new charter school," Giandomenico said. "There are things you can do to help your school district."
He also said the efforts the business community in Catawba County have already displayed through Champions of Education are commendable, especially with the new initiative that is being established, Education Matters.
"It sets the tone that graduating is expected, and is important." Giandomenico said. "It's a great example of how businesses make education a priority for the community."
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