Archived: Number of students enrolled in STEM and identified high-demand employment programs in public 4-year colleges and universities
Data source: The Council of Presidents and the Education Research and Data Center
According to the 2013 Washington Roundtable study "Great Jobs Within our Reach," there are 25,000 unfilled jobs in Washington which will grow to 50,000 by 2017. 80% of these jobs will be in high-skill STEM and health care roles. Eliminating the job skills gap could result in 160,000 new jobs, lower the employment rate by up to 2%, and generate $720 million in additional state tax revenues. Eliminating the job skills gap will require resources to: (1) increase capacity in higher education; and (2) enhance K-12 student interest in STEM subjects
From 2002-2011, our institutions produced 45% more baccalaureate degrees in high demand fields of study. By comparison, total public baccalaureate degree growth over the same period was 21%.
- Implementing programmatic changes and enrollment increases related State Investments in STEM and High Demand degree programs during the 2013-15 Biennia.
- STEM and High Demand investments were made at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and Western Washington University.
