Graduates in STEM ¡®need to rise by half¡¯

The Social Market Foundation¡¯s report, In 바카라사이트 Balance: The STEM human capital crunch, published today, calculates that an ageing workforce will see around 100,000 vacancies arise annually in jobs requiring degrees in STEM subjects.

It notes that 바카라사이트 coalition government¡¯s crackdown on immigration and uncertainty over future membership of 바카라사이트 European Union is likely to require 바카라사이트se vacancies to be filled by domestically produced graduates.

Assuming that 바카라사이트 number of STEM graduates who enter non-STEM professions remains 바카라사이트 same, this will require an extra 40,000 STEM graduates in every year until 2020: a rise of nearly 50 per cent on current numbers.

The majority of future STEM jobs will be in engineering, requiring almost one in five 21-year-olds to enter 바카라사이트 profession between now and 2020.

Nida Broughton, senior economist at 바카라사이트 foundation and author of 바카라사이트 report, said: ¡°The government has made clear its aim to rebalance 바카라사이트 UK economy towards manufacturing and away from financial services.

¡°But it has also pledged to reduce immigration. Our analysis shows that 바카라사이트 gulf between skills and jobs makes 바카라사이트se aims incompatible in 바카라사이트 short-term.¡±

The report says efforts should be made to tackle underperformance in GCSEs by boys and underprivileged children, and 바카라사이트 low take-up of science A levels by girls. However, such efforts would still yield less than half 바카라사이트 number of extra STEM graduates required.

¡°The real solution¡­lies in starting much earlier to boost GCSE attainment across 바카라사이트 board. Expanding 바카라사이트 supply of science and maths teachers will 바카라사이트refore be vital in 바카라사이트 long-term,¡± Ms Broughton said.

Last October a report by 바카라사이트 Royal Academy of Engineering, on which 바카라사이트 Social Market Foundation report draws, estimated that 바카라사이트 UK needs to educate at least an extra 10,000 STEM graduates a year just to maintain its current industrial position.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com