Joe Lieberman: “I am proud to join Senators Mikulski, Bond, Frist, and Domenici in introducing an innovative response to one of the…”

“I am proud to join Senators Mikulski, Bond, Frist, and Domenici in introducing an innovative response to one of the greatest challenges to the growth of the Innovation Economy, America's widening talent gap. Our technological prowess is unequaled in the world today, which is why, despite our recent slowdown and the aftershocks of the September 11 attacks, we still have the strongest, most vibrant economy on the planet, and we obviously have no deficit of ingenuity and inventiveness. But our long-term competitive standing and economic security could well be at risk if we do not address a troubling trendline in our workforce, the mismatch between the demand and supply of workers with science and engineering training. The fact is, the number of jobs requiring significant technical skills is projected to grow by more than 50 percent in the United States over the next ten years. But outside of the life sciences, the number of degrees awarded in science and engineering has been flat or declining. This has helped fuel a well-chronicled shortage of qualified New Economy workers.”