The STEM Crisis

The United States is losing its competitive edge in math and science while the rest of the world soars ahead. Our knowledge capital, which fuels innovation and economic growth, is at risk. 

The National Math + Science Initiative has hard facts on why STEM education matters and why our country’s student performance must improve in order for America to remain globally competitive. 

Decline in Education in America's Elementary and Secondary Schools

• 45 percent of 2011 U.S. high school graduates are ready for college-level math.
• 30 percent of 2011 U.S. high school students are ready for college-level science.
• Only 12 percent of black students and 17 percent of Hispanic students took Algebra I before high school in 2009. But, 48 percent of Asian students took Algebra I before high school in 2009. 
• In 2009, 34 percent of American fourth grade students, 30 percent of eighth grade students, and 21 percent of twelfth grade students performed at or above the proficient level in science.
• 9 percent of Hispanic and 10 percent of black U.S. students took advanced Algebra or calculus in 2008, compared to 22 percent of white students and 43 percent of Asian students.
• 27.6 percent of AP test takers in the class of 2011 earned a qualifying score on a STEM exam.
• 27 percent of 2011 test takers took an AP science exam and 26 percent took an AP math exam.
• 25 years ago, the U.S. led the world in high school and college graduation rates. Today, the U.S. has dropped to 20th and 16th. 

• Students who progress through at least Algebra II in high school are twice as likely as those who do not to complete a four-year degree.
• 38 percent of students who start with a STEM major do not graduate with one.
• In 2009, men age 25 and older held 87 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering fields.
• In 2009, of the 56 million people age 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree, nearly 20 million of them held a degree in a science and engineering field.
• STEM majors make more than non STEM majors. Petroleum engineering majors make about $120,000 a year, compared with $29,000 annually for counseling psychology majors.

• In 2007, about a third of public middle school science teachers either did not major in the subject in college and/or are not certified to teach it.
• 36 percent of public middle school math teachers in 2007 either did not major in the subject in college and/or are not certified to teach it.

• U.S. students recently finished 25^th in math and 17^th in science in the world compared to 31 other countries.
• The prestigious World Economic Forum ranks the U.S. as No. 48 in quality of math and science education.
• In 2008, 4 percent of U.S. bachelor’s degrees were awarded in engineering.Compared to 31 percent in China.
• In 2008, 31 percent of U.S. bachelor’s degrees were awarded in science and engineering fields. Compared to 61 percent in Japan and 51 percent in China.

• As of February 2012, more than half of the 30 fastest growing occupations require some level of post-secondary education.
• “All of the increase in employment over the past two decades has been among workers who have taken at least some college classes or who have associate or bachelor’s degrees – and mostly among workers with bachelor’s degrees.”
• In 2008, 59 percent of all jobs in the U.S. economy required post-secondary education. (Up from 28 percent in 1973.)
• By 2018, it is projected that 63 percent of all jobs in the U.S. economy will require post-secondary education. 
• By 2018, 92 percent of traditional STEM jobs will be for those with at least some post-secondary education and training.
• 23 percent of STEM workers are women, however women make up 48 percent of workers in all occupations.
• In 2009, 12 percent of STEM workers were non-Hispanic black and Hispanic. But,non-Hispanic black and Hispanic individuals accounted for 25 percent of overall employment.
• Jobs in computer systems design and related services, a field dependent on high-level math and problem-solving skills, are projected to grow 45 percent between 2008 and 2018.
• The U.S. may be short as many as three million high-skills workers by 2018.

• In 2009, U.S.scientists fielded nearly 29 percent of research papers in the most influential journals compared to 40 percent in 1981. STEM Crisis is causing a reduction in research which leads to growth.
• By 2009, for the first time, over half of U.S. patents were awarded to non-U.S. companies because STEM shortcomings are forcing a hold on innovation.

“We need to move the needle – immediately and sustainably — on student performance in critical STEM areas. Our partnership with NMSI helps accomplish that.”

- Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil

Citations for the statistics on the STEM Crisis page

Citations for STEM Education and the Workforce

Citations for Why STEM Education Matters