Boost the Innovation Economy
To return to prosperity, America needs more highly educated workers.
It’s a frustrating paradox: Millions of Americans are unemployed, yet U.S. companies cannot fill job openings for highly skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). And the shortage of these workers prevents companies from expanding and creating many other jobs.
The problem is a mismatch of workforce skills and employer needs. The solution is a stronger national focus on education and training, coupled with a constructive immigration policy regarding highly skilled foreign workers.
To boost economic growth and competitiveness, America must:
| • | Invest in STEM education to build a pipeline of future workers ready for the challenges of the global economy; |
| • | Strengthen skills of the current U.S. workforce, as Microsoft is doing through our Elevate America initiative; |
| • | Ease the nation’s critical shortage of highly skilled technical workers and allow U.S. employers to grow our economy by hiring the world’s best talent. |
Microsoft is committed to helping lead the American innovation economy back to full strength and long-term growth. To get there, the nation needs to get smart about workforce development and high-skills immigration policy.
