Workforce Development - STEM vs. Humanities?

States Increasingly Aim to Cut Humanities Funding, Boost STEM

The New York (NY) Times reports that some state government officials around the country, frustrated with rising student loan debt, tuition costs, and the lack of skilled workers, want to reward colleges that turn out majors in STEM fields — science, technology, engineering, and math — and reduce funding for humanities education. Proponents of such measures cite the lifetime earnings gap between humanities and STEM majors as the reason for passing the policies. Opponents argue that success in the workplace requires soft skills gained through liberal-arts studies and that the government can’t and shouldn’t try to predict what jobs will be required in the future.

Industry Stresses Development of Skilled Workers Who Are Job-ready at Graduation.

In a commentary for IndustryWeek, Bob Graff, an executive with Yaskawa America’s Motoman Robotics division, wrote of the challenges manufacturers face in preparing high-school, vocational, and college students “with the certifications and skills to be productive upon graduation.” A key element of this effort, he explained, is the industry’s focus on helping shape curricula in STEM fields “to meet the growing demand for technical careers in automation,” and, in turn, skilled manufacturing jobs. Graff cited a study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute concluding that 60% of the 3.4 million manufacturing jobs expected to be created over the next decade will be unfilled due to the shortage of skilled workers.