AeA President & CEO Testifies Before House Committee
on Education and Workforce

AeA highlights critical need for improving math and science education

Washington, DC (May 3, 2006) – AeA, the nation’s largest trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, announced that this morning, William T. Archey, President and CEO, AeA testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce on the current and future education needs of America’s high-tech industry.

“The competitiveness debate cannot remain inside the beltway,” said William T. Archey, President and CEO, AeA. “This is not only about the future of the U.S. tech industry, but about our children’s future. It is their jobs, their prosperity and their standard of living that are at stake.”

When comparing U.S. students at the K-12 level to their international counterparts, a disturbing trend emerges, particularly in math and science. While U.S. students in the 4th and 8th grades score in the top percentile, our 12th graders score at the bottom in math and science. “Without a solid foundation in math and science,” Archey testified, “we are closing doors for our children as they will face tremendous hurdles for careers as doctors, engineers, scientists, computer programmers, or any other technically-based profession.”

Archey continued, “We, as a nation, need to address this critical shortage of homegrown high-skilled talent. America can certainly compete. It has the flexibility, pioneering spirit, and capital to win the race – but to do this, America needs to recognize that future innovation is not predetermined to occur in the United States.”

This issue of a shortage of math and science skills was highlighted by AeA's Cyberstates 2006 report, released two weeks ago. This report found that high-tech employment is growing, adding 61,000 jobs in 2005. With ultra low unemployment rates — 1.5 percent for electrical engineers — and current restrictive and bureaucratic visa policies, high-tech job growth is stymied by a lack of qualified workers.

The need for improved math and science education is intricately linked to the competitiveness issue facing the United States. To address these concerns, Archey announced to the Committee that AeA has mobilized its nationwide grassroots organization to communicate the urgency of these issues to the American people. AeA has convened a series of regional seminars aimed at addressing the skill shortage, informing communities about the importance of math and science education at the K-12 level, and the need for a technically savvy workforce.

For more information, please visit: www.aeanet.org/competitiveness.

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About AeA
AeA, founded in 1943, is a nationwide trade association that represents all segments of the technology industry and is dedicated solely to helping our members’ top line and bottom line. We do this in partnership with our small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs. For more information, please visit http://www.aeanet.org.
 

This page was last updated on 05/03/06.