|
Post by mdub on Jan 27, 2009 0:09:26 GMT -6
I've been looking for awhile for any data on how many graduates there were in science, engineering, and other professions in the 21st. century. People like Bill Gates keep saying they can't find any American engineers, hence the need for more guest workers. I found some interesting data on the National Science Foundation's website. www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf08321/content.cfm?pub_id=3785&id=2In the last 8 years, the US has graduated roughly 4.5 million scientists and engineers (BA, MA, PHD). Also, 500,000 Computer Scientists were given BA, MA, and PHDs. The data only goes to 2006. I took the average of the first 6 years and added it to '07 and '08. But BLS data says that only 168,000 net new jobs were added in the last 8 years in the category "Architecture and Engineering". The BLS has no category for science. The category "Computer Systems Design and Related" added only 101,000 net new jobs. Information lost a net 776,000 jobs. The only hi-tech category to gain a decent amount of jobs was "Technical Consulting", adding 313,000 net jobs. But these are mostly short term contracts, lasting a few months, that don't offer benfits. The data proves beyond any doubt that there is no shortage. No wonder people like me and my late father have been unemployed or underemployed for years. No wonder we're making less now than at the turn of the century.
|
|
|
Post by unlawflcombatnt on Jan 27, 2009 1:05:20 GMT -6
Interesting link, mdub. www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf08321/pdf/tab1.pdfAccording to the above link, there were almost ½ million Bachelors degrees in science and engineering degrees awarded in 2006. There were 129K Masters degrees and 29K doctorates. Needless to say, there are nowhere near that many jobs created in science and engineering each year. We certainly have enough American graduates to fill those jobs. There is absolutely 0 need for any H1B visas. That program needs to be completely shut down immediately.
|
|
|
Post by judes on Jan 27, 2009 20:29:36 GMT -6
Exactly right mdub, there is no shortage of American engineers and scientists, just a shortage of employers willing to hire them. I have seen tens of thousands of engineers let go from my company alone over the last 10 or so years. I wish there was some data we could get our hands on that show the number of unemployed engineers and scientists and those working in other jobs because they couldn't find work in their respective field.
Just a couple months ago we had an entire design department of engineers that were let go, some were told they could hire back in as contract engineers for half the pay until the work could be fully transferred to the new Mexican tech center!! Some shortage!
I know many people who have been discouraged from going into engineering even though they wanted to, for lack of being able to secure a job!
|
|