Report: Future work force will require math, science skills

The council is made up of directors of the state departments of economic development, elementary and secondary education, and higher education, and the chairs of the State Board of Education and the Coordinating Board of Higher Education. It focuses on coordinating learning from preschool to graduate school and the work force.

The report, issued to Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday, notes that many of Missouri’s top employment sectors will need significantly more math- and science-intensive occupations that will require workers to be digitally literate if they are to be marketable in the 2025 economy. The report also says 60 percent of the 2025 work force is already working today.

The council lays out several strategies for Missouri students in its report:

• Regional summits to raise awareness, network assets, plan and act locally to improve the quality and relevance of education and training;

• Continued emphasis on implementing the Mathematics, Engineering, Technology and Science Initiative’s recommendations to make sure students are prepared for the math- and science-intensive occupations of the future;

• More collaboration between state education departments to improve vertical alignment from one educational level to the next and horizontal alignment with future business demand;

• Continued emphasis on targeting high-technology industry clusters to address specific needs;

• Maximized community assets to improve Missouri’s attractiveness to young degreed professionals;

• Continued retooling of adult work force programs; and

• Recognition that many Missouri workers are aging and working beyond normal retirement age, and adult retraining offerings will need to be flexible to accommodate mature workers.

The complete report is available at the P-20 Council’s new Web site, www.p-20.mo.gov.