1. Will North Carolina seize the future?

2. North Carolina could have a
bright future in STEM

3. North Carolina will enjoy robust STEM growth
As in much of the country, STEM jobs in North Carolina will enjoy robust growth.
Computing and advanced manufacturing will grow particularly quickly. Engineering looks like it will grow less quickly in comparative terms, but will grow well in absolute terms.
While computing and advanced manufacturing are projected to have healthy increases, engineering growth stands to expand considerably compared to other states.
Given the importance of technology as a driver of innovation and economic growth, NC may want to do more to promote a stronger computing, engineering and manufacturing workforce to strengthen the industry in the state.

4. STEM jobs earn more than non-STEM jobs in NC
STEM employees in North Carolina can earb more than double that of their non-STEM contemporaries.
In other words, there is a greater advantage to having a STEM job in North Carolina than a non-STEM job.

5. NC STEM unemployment much lower than in non-STEM fields
As is the case nationwide, the unemployment rate for STEM jobs is lower than non-STEM ones.
The gap between unemployment rates for STEM versus non-STEM jobs is over 5%; higher than the national average.

6. Will North Carolina have the STEM talent to meet the demand?

7. NC has loses STEM talent at every education level
Though close to the national average, North Carolina has the potential to help close the STEM gap by producing more graduates in STEM fields.
NC has a lower percentage of high school graduates who enter 2-year degree programs (18.5%) than the national average (27.6%). These students may be an untapped pool of STEM talent.

8. Minorities are underrepresented in computing degrees
More than 1/3
of population…
…but less than ¼ of degrees
Underrepresented minorities: Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska native.
The percentage of underrepresented minorities completing computing degrees and certificates has hovered around 24 and 30 percent for 15 years.
The story is still worse for engineering.

9. Minorities are very scarce in engineering
More than 1/3
of population…
…but only 13% of degrees
Racial and ethnic minorities are badly underrepresented among those who get degrees and certificates from North Carolina engineering programs.
While they constitute more than 36 percent of the college-age population, they receive only 13 percent of degrees and certificates in engineering.

10. Women sparse in computing
Nearly 3x more
for men
Only 26%
for women
North Carolina has a sizable gap between the number of men earning computing degrees and certificates and the number of women earning them.
Since 2001, women earned 44% of degrees/certificates.
Over the 15 years since then, men have earned more than twice as many computing degrees as women; 41,019 versus 18,505, respectively.
Women earned fewer degrees in 2015 than in 2001, while men have more than doubled their number.

11. Women sparse in engineering
3X more for men
Though there have been increases since 2001 in the number of women earning engineering degrees and certificates, men have earned more than three times as many over that period: 31,942 versus 10,047.
In 2015, women earned just 25% of NC engineering degrees and certificates.
Only 25%
for women

12. The challenge begins early: Students lag in K-12

13. NC 4th graders’ math scores have been mostly flat since 2009
Lower-income, Hispanic and Black 4th graders in North Carolina trail their higher-income and white peers in math.

14. NC 8th-graders have made no progress in math since 2009
Lower-income, urban, Hispanic and Black 8th graders in North Carolina trail their higher-income, suburban, and white peers in math performance.
NC rank: Black (tied for 9th); Hispanic (tied for 8th); urban (tied for 10th)

15. NC 8th-graders Have made some gains in science
While all groups of NC 8th graders fall below the proficiency mark in science, all have made progress since 2009.

16. Persistent achievement gaps in math and science
North Carolina minority students trail their peers in math and science proficiency by up to 37 percentage points.

17. Persistent achievement gaps in math and science
North Carolina students eligible for free/reduced lunch trail their peers in math and science proficiency by up to 37 percentage points.

18. North Carolina can give students better opportunities to learn

19. NC lags in teacher preparation
Only 44 percent of NC 8th-graders have science teachers with degrees in science.
Students from NC schools where the majority of students are Black or Hispanic trail their peers on this measure.

20. NC 8th-grade science teachers lack science resources
Less than half of NC 8th-graders have teachers who report having the resources they need to teach science;
On this measure, North Carolina ranks among the bottom ten states.
NC rank: tied for 44th

21. NC students lack access to science lab stations
North Carolina 8th-graders whose schools report that lab stations in science labs are available “to a large extent,” 2015
North Carolina ranks near the bottom of all states for having 8th-grade science labs stations for individual students.
While most schools need more supplies and equipment, schools report underrepresented students in NC trail other racial/cultural groups.

22. Minority schools lack access to supplies for science labs
North Carolina ranks near the bottom of all states for having 8th-grade science labs stations for individual students.
While most schools need more supplies and equipment, schools report underrepresented students in NC trail other racial/cultural groups.

23. Many NC students lack access to advanced classes
All North Carolina students—and students of color in particular—need better access to advanced math and science courses.

24. The state is squandering minority talent
The good news is NC has minority students with the potential to succeed on AP placement tests. The challenge is 50 percent did not take them.
The first step is to help these students take the tests.
Untapped pool of
STEM talent

25. To seize the future in STEM…
North Carolina should expand access to:
Proven STEM education opportunities for women and students of color
More opportunities for minority and lower-income students
Teachers with strong STEM backgrounds and robust instructional support
More STEM materials and facilities for K-12 students
Greater access to challenging math and science classes

26. Contact Information
Claus von Zastrow Facebook.com/changetheequation Twitter.com/changeequation