I
have toured the Micron facility twice in Lehi, who has complained about getting STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) employees locally. They pay their innovation engineers very well, but seem to have trouble getting enough of them. They
have not complained about not being able to get experience with the
degree, but some with a degree have said Micron and others also want experience and a skill set that
the local candidate has had trouble getting. I have been told that L-3 has
been willing to locally provide the required experience, but, I believe
has recently been hit by the Budget Sequestration in 2013.
I
know in the field of Architecture, (construction related, not typically listed in STEM) I had
seen the UofU put out dozens and dozens of those with a Master's degree
in Architecture. They aren't an architect until they are licensed,
which requires at least a few years of experience plus passing a very
hard licensing exam. The exam used to be over 4 days with the last part
being 12 hours that you brought your lunch to. That piece took me 4 tries,
over 2 years to pass. I was licensed (over 20 years ago) with 4 years of college, a 2 year
degree and 7 years full time experience plus passing the test.
That
option is not available today. What is required, I believe requires the
professional degree plus 3 years of experience, plus the test. Most take
6 to 8 years to get the BA/BS and a MA in Architecture not including the 3 years of
experience. The option I took and what is required today, often take 11
years.
Working
at a large firm, several years ago, I would see some of the recent
graduates not have the required skills, let alone the required
experience. I would see some with an AAS decree in architectural
technology be able to function better in a firm initially where those
with a MA from the UoU could. It was one of the reasons I transferred
from the U to what is now SLCC and got the AAS degree with more
experience. Over the years I have suggested students graduate from SLCC in Architectural Technology prior to taking the U's classes. I know the U has worked hard to make sure their graduates
have the required skills that were missing and have helped them get the
experience as well.
Because
consulting engineers in the field of producing documents to help
construct buildings have similar requirements (to architects) to get
their PE or SE to not only have the degree but also experience and
passing the tests, that area seems to work well. The license is critical
as unlike a doctor, who, if makes a mistake. can cause one person to
die, if an architect or consulting engineer working with contractors
make a major mistake, we can take out 20,000 people at once. Typically it
isn't that big a number, but hundreds and sometimes thousands have and do die in
collapses, fires, etc.
It
appears now, looking from the outside in, that in the US, many of the STEM graduates do not have the
required employment skill set AND experience to actually get the job
they want in the field they have the degree in. That is either a
communication problem, (knowing they need this experience as well), a
curriculum problem, or an internship problem. Anyway, it isn't just
pumping out people with STEM degrees. It appears many of the overseas
graduates looking for work here have the required employment skill set
and experience to actually get the job. I believe that is why some
articles say we have plenty of STEM graduates, but why the employers are
saying they can't find the STEM employees they need. We likely do need more
graduates and more money in education in these fields and I believe The I-Squared Act
will help, but only if this other issue is solved as well.
For more on the immigration portion of this subject, see:
http://www.fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2013/06/not-big-immigration-bill-but-lots-of.html
