{ "id": "RL34539", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "number": "RL34539", "active": false, "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department, EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc689323/", "id": "RL34539_2009Jul30", "date": "2009-07-30", "retrieved": "2015-08-03T15:06:47", "title": "The U.S. Science and Technology Workforce", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the status of the U.S. science and technology (S&T) workforce, and identifies some of the issues and options that are currently being discussed in Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090730_RL34539_8b4dda4ff127eda6707c05ec515de23f4c652428.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090730_RL34539_8b4dda4ff127eda6707c05ec515de23f4c652428.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Science policy", "name": "Science policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technology policy", "name": "Technology policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technological innovations", "name": "Technological innovations" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 350255, "date": "2009-06-30", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T02:24:12.361961", "title": "The U.S. Science and Technology Workforce", "summary": "In the 21st century, global competition and rapid advances in science and technology will challenge the scientific and technical proficiency of the U.S. workforce. Policymakers often discuss policy actions that could enhance the nation\u2019s science and technology (S&T) workforce\u2014deemed by some as essential to both meet U.S. workforce demands as well as to generate the new ideas that lead to improved and new industries that create jobs. \nThe America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) addresses concerns regarding the S&T workforce and STEM education, and the 111th Congress is debating funding for the programs authorized within it. Policymaker discussions tend to focus on three issues: demographic trends and the future S&T talent pool, the current S&T workforce and changing workforce needs, and the influence of foreign S&T students and workers on the U.S. S&T workforce. Many perspectives exist, however, on the supply and demand of scientists and engineers. Some question the fundamental premise that any action is necessary at all regarding U.S. competitiveness. They question whether or not the S&T workforce and STEM education are problems at all.\nThe first issue of demographic trends and the future S&T talent pool revolves around whether the quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education received by all Americans at the pre-college level is of sufficient quality that workers are available to satisfy current and future workforce needs. In response, some policymakers propose taking actions to increase the number of Americans interested in the S&T workforce. These policies are motivated by demographic trends that indicate the pool of future workers will be far more diverse than the current STEM workforce. Proposed policies would take actions to enhance the quality of STEM education these Americans receive so they are able to consider S&T careers, and to recruit them into the S&T workforce. \nThe second issue regarding the current S&T workforce and changing workforce needs tend to focus on whether or not the number of Americans pursuing post-secondary STEM degrees is sufficient to meet future workforce needs compared to students in countries considered to be U.S. competitors. The goal of proposed policies responding to this concern to reinvigorate and retrain Americans currently trained in science and engineering who voluntarily or involuntarily are no longer part of the current STEM workforce. \nThe third issue focuses on whether or not the presence of foreign S&T students and workers is necessary to meet the nation\u2019s workforce needs and attract the best and brightest to bring their ideas to the United States, or if the presence of such individuals adversely affects the U.S. S&T students and workers. Policy discussions focus on immigration policy, primarily increasing the ability of foreign STEM students currently in U.S. universities to more easily obtain permanent admission, and increasing the number of temporary worker visas available so more talent from abroad can be recruited to the United States. \nThe challenge facing policymakers when making decisions regarding the S&T workforce is that science, engineering, and economic conditions are constantly changing, both in terms of workforce needs as well as the skills the STEM workforce needs to be marketable relative to demand.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL34539", "sha1": "9b5d83e0949e1bcaf294680010073cd83c88e507", "filename": "files/20090630_RL34539_9b5d83e0949e1bcaf294680010073cd83c88e507.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL34539", "sha1": "8b4dda4ff127eda6707c05ec515de23f4c652428", "filename": "files/20090630_RL34539_8b4dda4ff127eda6707c05ec515de23f4c652428.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87347/", "id": "RL34539_2009Feb03", "date": "2009-02-03", "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21", "title": "The U.S. Science and Technology Workforce", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the status of the U.S. science and technology (S&T) workforce, and identifies some of the issues and options that are currently being discussed in Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090203_RL34539_9b443edd0349b259e228434f3e3afdf409d9726f.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090203_RL34539_9b443edd0349b259e228434f3e3afdf409d9726f.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Science policy", "name": "Science policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technology policy", "name": "Technology policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technological innovations", "name": "Technological innovations" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462884/", "id": "RL34539_2008Jun20", "date": "2008-06-20", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "The U.S. Science and Technology Workforce", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the status of the U.S. science and technology (S&T) workforce, and identifies some of the issues and options that are currently being discussed in Congress. The report concludes with a summary of some pertinent activities in the 110th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080620_RL34539_2ff69c09a33339df6ce580670b47997026e49ff4.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080620_RL34539_2ff69c09a33339df6ce580670b47997026e49ff4.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technology policy", "name": "Technology policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technology assessment", "name": "Technology assessment" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technology innovations", "name": "Technology innovations" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Science policy", "name": "Science policy" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Science and Technology Policy" ] }