[This industry study showed an increase in studies showing CS graduates. They selectively included other technology fields where the job market is poor to show a decrease.]

4-26-1999

High-Tech Education Not Popular

By The Associated Press


SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Fewer students are seeking high-tech
degrees despite a need for graduates in those fields, a new study
says.


The report, being issued by the American Electronics Association
today, found that high-tech degrees -- including engineering, math,
physics and computer science -- declined 5 percent between 1990 and
1996.


Preliminary findings from 1997 and 1998 indicate the trend is
continuing, the AEA said.


``Although there are some bright spots in the CyberEducation
results, the bottom line is that the U.S. educational system is not
adequately preparing our youth for today's information age
economy,'' said AEA president William Archey.


The AEA said elementary and high schools must do more to get
students ready to tackle a high-tech education.


Of the decreasing number of high-tech degrees awarded, the study
found a significant portion went to foreign nationals. At the
doctorate level where 45 percent of high-tech degrees were granted
to non-U.S. citizens.


Among the states, California's colleges conferred the most
high-tech degrees, but it also had one of the greatest declines,
awarding 1,600 fewer degrees in 1996 than in 1990.


Nationwide the unemployment rate for high-tech careers is extremely
low --1.6 percent for engineers and 1.2 percent for math and
computer scientists last year.


Lack of trained workers has been a common complaint in the
high-tech industry.


Lobbyists successfully pressed last year for Congress to raise
dramatically the number of foreigners with high-tech skills who can
be hired by American companies. Critics argued the industry is
overlooking qualified domestic workers in its search for cheaper
labor.


But the new law provides for 142,500 more visas between 1999 and
2001.


Michaela Platzer, AEA vice president for research and policy
analysis, said the industry ``is interested in recruiting the best
and the brightest wherever they are.''


She said it's disappointing that students are not choosing
high-tech educations. But she said their study did point to a few
hopeful factors.


During the past two years, more students have been seeking computer
sciences degrees, she said.


In addition, the study found U.S. high school students are taking
more math and science. For example, in recent years the percentage
of students completing Algebra II and chemistry has doubled.