It is a well-known fact that there is a huge shortage of workers in STEM fields. In order to help more people get jobs, governments and non-governmental organizations must invest in the education and training of future generations. It will be difficult to solve this problem unless these groups work together to make it happen.
Keep reading to learn three ways governments and nonprofits can close this gap so that we don’t suffer from a shortage of workers with the skills required to maintain a modern society.
We Need to Put More Pressure on Companies First
According to Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer of Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, retention is the biggest pain point impacting Women in STEM. “I think that retention is our pain point. And quotas don’t work alone. The governments in Scandinavia have been working on that.”
NGOs Can Play a Critical Role in Closing the Talent Gap
According to Hoda Alkhzaimi, Emirates Digital Association for Women, there are specific programs in the Middle East aimed at educating women in AI. “For example, what we are trying to do in Emirates Digital Association for Women, Women in AI, we’re trying to build community programs who would encourage the community to have their works in STEAM areas, and STEAM because the A is for arts and we believe heavily in the creative industry. We don’t believe in cutting and choosing and pushing women into specific directions where they might be a minority in the future.”
This is typically in areas such as education, skills training and job-seeking. Non government organizations also offer a wealth of experience and expertise in workforce development and labor markets. They play a critical role for filling the gaps that exist when federal or regional governments cannot invest in people.
Governments Have the Power to Make Lasting Change
According to Hoda Alkhzaimi, there needs to be an investment in young people. ”The government can use its leverage and use its power to ensure that women are not just getting more opportunities, like more skills and more opportunities to get into STEM, but women are more involved in decision making when it comes to the sector.” Governments have the opportunity to help close these talent gaps. For example, they can issue fines if bylaws are not followed and draw on their power to ensure that women are involved when they can.
In a world of rapid change, organizations need employees with skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to push the boundaries of what is considered possible. EdTech education has been neglected and governments and nonprofits need to make STEM an essential part of their agenda.
These points were shared in a recent panel discussion at the International Women in STEM conference. The panel discussed the solution, and how important it is that governments and NGOs are involved. Click here to listen to the panel in its entirety.
