As in our 2012 report, for this report we define a  federally-funded STEM education program as a program funded in a  designated fiscal year by allocation or congressional appropriation  that includes one or more of the following as a primary objective: attract or prepare students to pursue classes or coursework in STEM  areas through formal or informal education activities, attract students to pursue degrees (2-year, 4-year, graduate, or  doctoral) in STEM fields through formal or informal education  activities, provide training opportunities for undergraduate or graduate students  in STEM fields (this can include grants, fellowships, internships, and  traineeships that are targeted to students; we do not consider general  research grants to researchers that may hire a student to work in the  lab to be a STEM education program), attract graduates to pursue careers in STEM fields, improve teacher education in STEM areas for teachers and those  studying to be teachers,  improve or expand the capacity of K-12 schools or postsecondary  institutions to promote or foster education in STEM fields, or  conduct research to enhance the quality of STEM education programs  provided to students. STEM Degrees and Jobs Are Increasing, but Their Alignment Is Difficult to Determine

		While Degrees Have Increased in Most STEM Fields, Some Fields Have Grown More than Others

Overall, postsecondary degrees awarded in STEM fields have increased  at a greater rate than in non-STEM fields during the past decade. The  number of STEM degrees awarded increased 55 percent, from 1.35  million degrees awarded in the 2002-2003 academic year to over 2 million  in the 2011-2012 academic year. 3). The number of jobs in STEM  occupations increased 16 percent from 14.2 million jobs in 2004 to 16.5  million in 2012, while jobs in non-STEM occupations remained fairly  steady (with a decline of 0.1 percent). First,  estimating how many STEM workers employers need is a challenge, in  part because demand for STEM workers can fluctuate with economic  conditions. Most Federal Postsecondary STEM Education Programs Address Workforce Needs to Some Extent

		Most Federal Postsecondary STEM Education Programs Consider Workforce Needs, Including Jobs, Diversity, and Innovation

Eighty-eight percent of the 124 federal postsecondary STEM education  programs that responded to our survey indicated that meeting one or  more of the workforce needs we identified, such as promoting a diverse  workforce, was a stated objective of the program. The most common stated objective was to  prepare postsecondary students for a career in a STEM field. Diversity

In addition to preparing students for STEM jobs, we identified several  other workforce needs that federal STEM education programs reported  addressing. However, some programs did not measure an outcome or output that  directly related to their stated objectives. As we  recommended in 2012, the National Science and Technology Council  recently issued guidance to help agencies better incorporate their STEM  education efforts and the goals from the government-wide STEM  Education 5-Year Strategic Plan into their agency performance plans and  reports. As agencies follow the guidance, improve their outcome  measures, and focus on the effectiveness of the programs, more  programs may measure outcomes directly related to their stated program  objectives, such as preparing students for STEM careers. Agency Comments and Our Evaluation

We provided a draft of this product for comment to the Departments of  Defense, Education, Energy, and Health and Human Services; National  Science Foundation; and Office of Management and Budget. GAO staff who made key contributions to this  report are listed in appendix V.

Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

Our research objectives were to review (1) recent trends in the number of  degrees and jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics  (STEM) fields, (2) the extent to which federal postsecondary STEM  education programs take workforce needs into consideration, and (3) the  extent to which federal kindergarten-12th grade (K-12) STEM education  programs prepare students for postsecondary STEM education. To provide more details about some of the STEM education programs  with the highest reported obligations, we conducted a more in-depth  review of 13 of the largest STEM education programs from three  agencies: the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education,  and the National Institutes of Health at the Department of Health and  Human Services. GAO-12-108. Higher Education: Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and  Mathematics Programs and Related Trends.
Why GAO Did This Study

Federal STEM education programs help enhance the nation's global competitiveness by preparing students for STEM careers. Researchers disagree about whether there are enough STEM workers to meet employer demand. GAO was asked to study the extent to which STEM education programs are aligned with workforce needs.
GAO examined (1) recent trends in the number of degrees and jobs in STEM fields, (2) the extent to which federal postsecondary STEM education programs take workforce needs into consideration, and (3) the extent to which federal K-12 STEM education programs prepare students for postsecondary STEM education. GAO analyzed trends in STEM degrees and jobs since 2002 using 3 data sets—the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, American Community Survey, and Occupational Employment Statistics—and surveyed 158 federal STEM education programs. There were 154 survey respondents (97 percent): 124 postsecondary and 30 K-12 programs. In addition, GAO conducted in-depth reviews—including interviews with federal officials and grantees—of 13 programs chosen from among those with the highest reported obligations.

What GAO Found

Both the number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees awarded and the number of jobs in STEM fields increased in recent years. The number of degrees awarded in STEM fields grew 55 percent from 1.35 million in the 2002-2003 academic year to over 2 million in the 2011-2012 academic year, while degrees awarded in non-STEM fields increased 37 percent. Since 2004, the number of STEM jobs increased 16 percent from 14.2 million to 16.5 million jobs in 2012, and non-STEM jobs remained fairly steady. The trends in STEM degrees and jobs varied across STEM fields. It is difficult to know if the numbers of STEM graduates are aligned with workforce needs, in part because demand for STEM workers fluctuates. For example, the number of jobs in core STEM fields, including engineering and information technology, declined during the recession but has grown substantially since then.
Almost all of the 124 federal postsecondary STEM education programs that responded to GAO's survey reported that they considered workforce needs in some way. For example, the most common program objective was to prepare students for STEM careers. Some of these programs focused on occupations they considered to be in demand and/or related to their agency's mission. Many postsecondary programs also aimed to increase the diversity of the STEM workforce or prepare students for innovation. Most STEM programs reported having some outcome measures in place, but GAO found that some programs did not measure an outcome directly related to their stated objectives. As GAO recommended in 2012, the National Science and Technology Council recently issued guidance to help agencies better incorporate STEM education outcomes into their performance plans and reports. As agencies follow the guidance and focus on the effectiveness of the programs, more programs may measure outcomes directly related to their objectives.
Of the 30 kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) STEM education programs responding to GAO's survey, almost all reported that they either directly or indirectly prepared students for postsecondary STEM education. For example, one program worked closely with students to provide math and science instruction and supportive services to prepare them for postsecondary STEM education, while another supported research projects intended to enhance STEM learning.

What GAO Recommends

GAO makes no recommendations in this report. GAO received technical comments from the Departments of Education, Energy, and Health and Human Services; National Science Foundation; and Office of Management and Budget.