Science & Technology
Targeting the new degrees to high-income, high-demand job sectors
It’s not just a question of how many degrees—the key is the type of degrees. The 70,000 cumulative additional degrees earned in the next decade should be concentrated in high-income, high-demand sectors, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and in areas that are experiencing shortages of skilled workers, such as healthcare and teaching.
This focus will enable thousands more Virginians each year to gain secure, well-paying employment and launch productive careers in high-impact occupations and professions. It will keep Virginia competitive with states and countries that are making vital investments in human capital so they will become magnets for business investment and job creation in the new economy.
America’s strength has always been its unsurpassed creativity and innovation. That advantage is at risk as other countries outpace us in producing STEM graduates. Virginia can show the nation the way to sustained global leadership in science and technology by making a visionary commitment to higher educational attainment in those crucial disciplines—and keeping that promise.
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