The California Council on Science and Technology, the U.S. Department of Labor and other groups have raised urgent concern about the shortage of engineers and scientists. The 2004–2005 statistics below quantify the problem and show how MESA contributes to the solution.
| California industry faces a science and technology workforce crisis. |
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In 2001, some 14,000 California jobs requiring science or engineering degrees went unfilled, threatening California’s ability to compete in the global economy.
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Jobs requiring science, engineering and technical training will increase 51% nationally through 2008, leading to 6 million potential job openings in these related fields. |
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Fewer than 20,000 science and engineering graduates are produced annually. To make up the shortfall, the number produced in the state would need to increase by nearly 70%. |
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| MESA helps alleviate this crisis. |
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Although 70% of MESA schools are among the most underperforming in the state, 57% of MESA’s pre-college students who go to college major in math-based fields. |
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One hundred percent of MESA’s community college transfers attend four-year universities as engineering, science or other math-based majors.
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MESA has been recognized by the White House, the Ford Foundation and Harvard University for its innovation and mentoring success in engineering, science and mathematics. |
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| MESA is cost-effective. |
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MESA spends only $204 in state and UC dollars per pre-college student each year—far less than similar federal programs. |
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Last year, MESA used its $5.14 million in state and UC funds to leverage $6.05 million in additional monies from companies only because the program’s core infrastructure was set in place through state and UC funds.
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