Department of Labor Statistics and Related Issues in Science and Math Education

Department of Labor Statistics The American Electronics Association (AEA) defines high-tech workers as those versed in computers, photonics, software services, data processing and defense electronics. High Tech workers earned 82 % more than other fields 60 % of new jobs will require skills possessed by only 22 % of young people entering the job market

Department of Labor Statistics 70 % of all jobs require technology By the year 2010 all jobs will require technical skills 80 % of all new jobs do not exist yet. In the year 2006 – 1.3 million high tech jobs were not filled

Issues and Trends in Science and Math Education The demand for high tech skills is expected to double These trends shed light on an old problem – the inadequacy of our primary and secondary math and science education According to N.S. F chairman James J. Duderstadt, “The most important factor affecting the long-term production of scientists is the tragic inadequacy of our primary and secondary science and math education program.” (p. 9 Radical Equations) Forty percent of students taking freshman calculus in U.S. universities fail

Unemployment and wage estimates in the U.S. The number of unemployed persons = 7.6 million The unemployment rate was = 5.0 percent this April Job losses totaled 240,000 in the first 3 months of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Where are the jobs? Go to the following website for job categories; _nat.htm#b _nat.htm#b Total employment =146.3 million The employment population ratio is 62.7 %

Employment and wage estimates in the U.S. from April 2008 Part- time work increased by 306,000 to 5.2 million (This level was 849,000 higher than in April 2007) Construction declined by 61,000 jobs (Since its peak in September 2006, construction employment has fallen by 457,000) Manufacturing employment fell by 46,000 jobs in durable goods manufacturing Employment in retail trade continued to trend down, with a decrease of 27,000 jobs

Where are the jobs? Employment and wage estimates in the U.S. in April 2008 Health care continued to increase to a gain of 37,000 (365,000 jobs over the past 12 months) 22,000 jobs in ambulatory health care services 9,000 jobs in hospitals. Professional and technical services employment rose by 27,000 jobs Computer systems design 10,000 jobs Accounting and bookkeeping services edged up by 9,000. Employment in temporary help services continued to trend down.

Where are the jobs? Employment and wage estimates in the U.S. Food services 18,000 jobs Colleges, Universities, and Professionals 180,670 jobs pay ranging from $74,590 Junior Colleges 81,750 jobs pay ranging from $67,840 Science research and development 2,390 jobs pay ranging from $76,280 Other schools and instruction 1,220 jobs pay ranging from $44,730 Business school and computer training 1,190 jobs pay ranging from $56,580

Prisons are the fastest growing public sector Prisons grow enough each year to fill New York’s Yankee stadium A young man born this year has 1 out of 20 chance of living some part of his life in jail If he is black his chances jump up to 1 out of 4 The crime rate in teens is going up 1% each year (oas.samhsa.gov) Washington D.C., attorneys Joseph B. Tulman and Mary G. Hynes write, “in overwhelming percentages, they are poor children and they are children of color. Large percentages of children in the delinquency system and adults in the criminal system are severely undereducated, and literacy skills in these populations are strikingly low.” (p. 12 Radical Equations)

Math and Science literacy as a tool for liberation Are we going to have a society where only a small group of people are prepared for the future, where there is a huge knowledge gap? How does such a society stabilize itself?

Who does the Algebra project target? The key word here is you