Do American have enough High Skill Workers today?

[crazelion]

I just read a article in Chattanooga Times Free Press that we bring in foreigners citzens to do highly skill jobs because because we don't have enough high skill American people do the jobs.

That is alot bs. There is plenty of highly skill American workers do highly skill jobs. The American companies don't won't give Amercans a chance that they can do the job.


They say Americans is following behind in math and science and don't have the skills to come up with there foreigners counter parts.

What is your thoughts?

 

[jgmklmhem]

Having recently (within the past 2 years) gotten my PHD in Chemistry I can honestly say that many of the foreign students I taught and had as colleagues far surpassed their American counterparts in both their intellect and their work ethic (Granted these are generalizations and there were exceptions, but my observations are what allowed me to come to these conclusions). Many of these students had to basically give their right arm to be able to attend an American University and seem to appreciate the oppurtunity more than us locals who sometimes believe going to college is a birth right and not something that has to be worked on.

Also Americans are just not going in to the sciences in large numbers. I remember the application board at my grad school (showed the numbers and such). The domestic number was usually around 200 or so and the foreign one was sometimes over 3000.

I will also say that while we probably have the best University system in the world that our K-12 education seems to be lacking in many of the fundamental areas like strong math and science. In teaching chemistry of all subjects I found myself also having to teach remedial algebra much of the time as well....which is ridiculous in a college science class.

 

[chris1gill]

I absolutely agree with JGM... here, the state of our elementary/public primary schools, and their curriculum is an absolute disgrace. When you compare them to other more progressive countries and curriculum's, the discrepancy is terrible. I think I can honestly speak to the accuracy of the report you read, as we are looking out of the country to educate our children in grades 10-12. This is specifically a result of the lagging science and math studies here in this country.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Science and math are not the only studies lagging in this country...

 

[Crankyshank]

Science and math are not the only studies lagging in this country...

ITA with this. For example: I deal with many foreign born students every day at work and I am constantly surprised at how much more they know about American history than many Americans do.
I think the American public educational system needs to be completely revamped in order for us to be more competitive with other countries. And this is not limited to math and science, although those subjects are definitely a huge concern.

 

[crazelion]

How do improve the American education system so we can comption with foreigners so that American people can have good jobs.

Just found it odd that we have unemployed people with skill in IT, Engineering, Math and Science with out jobs that going to foreigners. We should not how to should not let our jobs go to forigners.


Why send kids to college now if all the highly skills jobs go to foreigners. That American people just get a high school education go work for Mc Donalds somewhere.


Just think about all the highly skill Americans that is working minmum wage jobs because the foreigners is taking the good jobs away. Because American companies won't hire them becasue they don't work for cheap like foreigners.

 

[wvrevy]

I agree with both the OP (that it's BS), and with the others (that our educational system is in a shambles).

For one thing, I believe companies like using this as an excuse to outsource (or "outshore", if you prefer) American jobs. So long as our trade policies allow them to continue doing this, you will continue to have MANY qualified people either on the unemployment line or working in service industry jobs that are FAR below their pay scale. But as long as an Indian programmer is willing to work for 1/4th the pay, companies will continue the practice (actual government leadership could do something to stop it, but don't expect it as long as the corporate party is in power).

On the other hand, I couldn't agree more that our education system in this country needs a major overhaul. The problem, again, is partially one of politics - this time, my own side. So long as the left is in bed with the teachers unions, you will never see any meaningfull change in the system. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" is a joke, and a bad one at that. Even if it was actually, I dunno, FUNDED it doesn't go far enough. Testing isn't the be-all-and-end-all. It'd be like thinking that a thermometer could cure the flu. It's a tool, nothing more.

We need to raise standards in the classroom, there is no question of that. How we do that is certainly still open for debate.

 

[Puffy2]

Do American have enough High Skill Workers today?

Not if that question is an indication. Sorry, I couldn't resist....

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Spend 30 minutes talking to my husband and learn all about how hard it is to find motivated and skilled US employees to work in his lab.

He gives a reading comprehension skills test to all applicants which requires the ability to read on a 6th grade level and follow a series of instructions. Most applicants fail it.

 

[crazelion]

Not if that question is an indication. Sorry, I couldn't resist....

Yes may English grammar is bad. Know what just becasue you past a test. Does not mean you understand what you is doing.

I have try my best overcome my english grammar problem. I just don't understand.

But that does have nothing to with my math skills at all. Found job that uses your strengths. Mind is math and communication skills. I can explain something to some in the simplist terms so they can understand it.

Example of job that does not uses my English skills. Concession Stand Manager job.

You have be able to think on feet. I am over 20 employees, 40 vountleers that I have train each night because they never have that kind work before, make sure stand is stock, and the food is cook to the right temp.

I have known people to crack under the preesure because they could not take the hard work.

Before judge someone intelligent level becasue they can't write a complete sentence. You should think about it minute. People smart then they look.

Test is not a good way tell someone can do a job. I known alot people who fail the test more smarter than the person that they hire that past the test.

All I am saying give people a chance at position they may turn out be some best employees at job.