The U.S. Technology Skills Gap, + Website: What Every Technology Executive Must Know to Save America's Future
“America has a rich tradition of making things. The increasing technical sophistication of the world, combined with historically low numbers of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) graduates at best fails to honor that history. And, at worst, threatens to severely limit America’s future.”—Ralph Loura, Chief Information Officer, The Clorox Company“In the past few years I have hired many deeply technical people. The vast majority of resumes for my most technical jobs come from graduates of colleges in India and China. It is clear to me that we are not preparing American students with the skills that high tech employers deem necessary.”—JohnHalamka, Chief Information Officer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Professor, Harvard Medical School“When I talk to high school and college students I find the connection of skills learned in math and science to skills used in work, and in life, is missing.  Educators need to make this connection – how does a lab in science relate to work and life? How does calculus relate? These lack of connections are a serious gap in our education system.”—Nancy Newkirk, Chief Information Officer, International Data Group “Information technology plays a pervasive and critical role in driving business capabilities and enabling corporate strategies. In order for American industry to sustain its renowned capacity to innovate, it must have a workforce equipped to develop and apply future generations of advanced information technologies.”—James Nanton, Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Hanesbrands, Inc.“The American educational system has lost touch with the reality of providing people with the practical skills and competencies required for young professionals to add meaningful value to our corporations. America needs to rethink how we prepare young people to have meaningful careers that are both financially and intellectually rewarding.”—Larry Bonfante, Chief Information Officer, The United States Tennis Association“One of the most difficult roles I have as a chief information officer is finding and recruiting talent. In a growing business, with average turnover rates, I run at a constant talent deficit because I cannot find people with the skills I need to the job openings I have. If the American education system cannot produce a work force with the appropriate skills then these jobs will be filled by global providers. The need to focus on creating career-ready individuals is not an educational imperative. It is an economic imperative.”—Gary King, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Chico’s,Inc.“The K-12 years are critical foundational years that “plant the seed” for a desire to learn, to teach vital study and research habits, to develop skill sets and to discover areas of interest and proclivity.  These are pivotal years that work to shape the “whole” person. The K-12 educational phase is also the ideal period to generate interest, desire and passion for technology. Sadly, more and more of our underserved demographic groups are participating as “consumers” of technology, versus “developers” or “innovators” of such.”—Gina C.Tomlinson, Chief Technology Officer, City and County of San Francisco“I became astutely aware that America had a problem communicating and getting children interested in technology based on an experience I had with my middle school-aged daughter who told me one day, ‘Dad, I am terrible in technology’. The first thing I told her, partly kiddingly, was not to say that in public too loudly, as that would not look good for Dad since his job is heading a technology group!  But it illustrated a problem our country has: most children are not being exposed to the possibilities of technology and how the field could be interesting, challenging and great job opportunities for them and that they should not have any fears about being able to utilize technology in many ways since they already use it far more than they comprehend.”—Michael Gabriel, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Home Box Office“The historical position of the United States as a global technology innovator has brought us prosperity and growth. These will dry up quickly, however, if our country does not produce a steady supply of thought leaders who are able to compete in the global technology marketplace. As our world shifts more and more from atoms to bits as the currency of economic growth, America will be left behind if we are not able to compete as global innovators.  As a result, we will soon find ourselves handing our global economic leadership over to a new set of leaders, and along with it, our ability to determine our own future and control of our own destiny. The United States must make profound, wholesale changes to our education system in a way that emphasizes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and encourages and motivates students to excel in these critical areas. If we fail to do so, we will lose our global competitiveness.”—Steve Mills, Chief Information Officer, Rackspace Hosting Inc.“‘Survival of the fittest’ has shaped the evolution of our species for hundreds, thousands, even millions of years. In the 21stcentury business context, the fittest are those with the ability to think critically, solve problems, innovate and collaborate effectively with one another. If we fail to equip our children with these skills through significant enhancements to our education systems, how will they ever survive.”—Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, San Francisco Giants