Policy conversations about issues plaguing Maine’s economy have moved beyond energy prices and taxes.
People now are aware of a dearth of science, technology, engineering and math graduates coming from Maine colleges and going into the state’s high-tech work force. This growing shortage of so-called STEM skilled workers will be the topic of a conference planned Tuesday at Colby College in Waterville.
The 2012 Maine STEM Summit will bring together educators, business leaders and policymakers to discuss the problem, and what is being done to address it.
The past two conferences, held in 2008 and 2010, really focused on raising awareness about the problem, said Anita Bernhardt, science and technology specialist with Maine’s Department of Education.
“In a lot of ways, it marks a kind of turning of a corner for us as a state,” said Bernhardt. “We’re really moving to this engagement stage, and getting into the weeds about what it means to do STEM effectively.”
Addressing this work force shortage of high-tech workers is important to growing the Maine economy. There has been a lot of news over the past year of a shortage of skilled workers such as machinists and electricians.
That’s the case for skilled IT workers, as well, with job openings in growing, new-economy companies such as Wright Express, Unum, IDEXX Laboratories and others being filled with people from out of state by necessity. In some cases, Maine companies are opening IT centers in other states to fill their needs.
There’s a number of initiatives under way to address the problem here, with business leaders and educators collaborating on solutions. One goal is to double the number of computer science graduates from the University of Maine system over the next four years. Another is to more than double the number of internships offered in IT-related fields.
Wright Express CEO Mike Dubyak has emerged as a leading force in STEM initiatives in Maine.
“How do we improve the economic well-being? How do we keep our best and brightest in the state of Maine, not going to school and then leaving the state?” said Dubyak.
He said his company employs 121 in IT jobs in South Portland. But the company also employs 65 contractors.
“We’ve increased our work force in it by 50 percent with contractors, because we can’t find people in the state who can do these jobs,” said Dubyak.
Dubyak said in talks among his company and six other large Maine employers, it was determined that they would create a total of 500 IT jobs over the next five years. The University of Maine system graduates about 50 people each year with four-year degrees in computer science or information science, he said. That’s a shortfall of 250.
A study by Planning Decisions Inc. broadened that trend, Dubyak said. The 10-year supply of people with associate degrees in computer sciences graduating from Maine schools is 210, with 590 bachelor’s degree holders.
The demand is 1,777. That’s a shortfall of 977.
Dubyak thinks the problem is children losing interest in STEM-related jobs through high school and into college. He pointed to studies that showed 75 percent of fourth-graders in Maine and nationwide wanted to grow up to work in a STEM field — doctor, astronaut, etc.
By the eighth grade, that number drops to 50 percent nationwide. In Maine, it drops to 25 percent.
“We’re losing their hearts and minds somewhere along that life cycle,” said Dubyak.
To help keep students aware of career opportunities, companies involved in the STEM initiative plan to increase the number of IT-related internships to 500 in the next four years, up from 200.
They’re also working with the community college and UMaine system to figure out how to increase the number of IT grads coming out of the state’s schools, including allowing easy matriculation from the two-year programs to baccalaureate programs.
Jan Mokros, executive director of the Maine Math and Science Alliance, said her group has been working on educating teachers in STEM areas for decades. Now they’re working to educate teachers and guidance councilors about the STEM gap problem. Teachers don’t necessarily teach kids about careers or what they can do in certain areas. But that has to be part of the solution, she said.
There are positive things happening in the state, she said. The industry push to double the amount of IT graduates over the next four years is one of them. Another is work by the Reach Center, a project of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance in collaboration with the Maine School of Science and Mathematics created by a $3.2 million grant. The goal of the center is to help students in grades 5-12 learn new concepts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Bernhardt, from the education department, said addressing the STEM gap encompasses all these things: work force development, K-12 teaching and learning, and collaboration among business, educators, government and nonprofits. It’s not a Maine-specific problem, she said, but the state does need to address the issues now.
“We have a great opportunity to get kids prepared. We’ve got a great energy, we’ve all got to be willing to dig down and make it happen,” said Bernhardt. “If we don’t do it now, we’re going to miss a great opportunity for kids.”
I am having a difficult time understanding why this article was written? I was under the impression we were going to change curriculum of our school system to logging 101 (to be clear, an honest living), extend the hours said pupils can work throughout the week as well as end the school year in May so that we an eliminate income taxes? Why would any state wish to educate their youth to possess high-tech knowledge and skills??
“Why would any state wish to educate their youth to possess high-tech knowledge and skills?? ”
Considering the fact that these young kids are forced to leave the state to find that first job, I would tend to agree with your question. In fact, if any of the current batch of high school students are truly interested in STEM careers, they would be better off researching an area outside of Maine where they may be willing to relocate then go to school there. The advantage would be in the fact that the school likely will have an established relationship with many employers in that state and would likely be able to help the new grad find that first job. Just be sure to pick a state where the employer is likely to hire inexperienced grads to begin with.
I would love to see all these high tech jobs come to Maine.
I would love to see Maine students filling these jobs.
I would love to see the industries that need these people recruit in the high schools for the best and brightest with interest in these needed fields.
I would love to see them pay through scholarships for the education needed to gain these skills.
I do remember when the computer industry was screaming for programers and thousands went to college, all across the country, to get their degrees in computer programming. Then for economic reasons the employers opted to shop elsewhere for employees and now whenever you need tech help you are talking to someone who barely speaks english.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, many of the companies mentioned in the article just will not hire entry level IT people. Look at any help wanted ad from any of these companies that are mentioned. How many of them are looking for entry level? I’ll bet not one of them are. If they do list a job that may be considered entry level, that job will also likely require three to five years of experience. You can have all the education in the world, but no school in the world will give you the experience needed to get that first job.
I say this because my brother went to UMA for IT. He couldn’t find an entry level job in Maine. Yes, he did apply to Wright Express. He did apply to Unum. I also remember him applying to Idexx. The closest he came to getting an interview with these three was with Idexx where he had a telephone interview. In the end, he did just as these companies have claimed to do: he found a position out of state and is doing rather well.
I think most Maine employers are missing the boat when they claim there’s a skills shortage in Maine. I don’t believe it. What these employers really want are the skills AND the experience right fresh out of school. Rather than choose to work with and train good, qualified, educated fresh graduates, some of these companies choose to fill their needs out of state. Yet, these fresh graduates who are unable to find that first job because they’re not the “perfect” match are forced to do the same. So, the only skills shortage is the one that lies right between the hiring manager’s ears.
Maybe only 25% of the new jobs will need stem education. Not all kids are cut out to be doctors or astronauts. Like you really need calculus for most jobs . I do not believe most teacher can even do it unless they teach math.
Kids have to be shown that what they are learning is useful. You taught math and explained that it was necessary in measuring to build a house, make a dress, bake a cake.. life skills. The same can be said as a child gets older, show them that certain skills are useful for specific jobs that will be available when they leave school. Many college graduates find that there are no jobs in their area of study. It would have been helpful if they had the proper guidance early on.
Even with technical training NO young workers will want to stay in Maine and work. There’s nothing here except LePage’s “War on the Poor”….and a casino ONLY tourists can afford….When LePage was elected it destroyed any hope of keeping Mainers in Maine.
Nobody has a chance at getting a job when they are all handed out to LePage’s family first….