What does that mean for students today? A failure on behalf of schools to provide students with adequate training in the technology sector will have an adverse impact on their job prospects by the time they graduate.
Among occupations expected to see the highest job growth through 2024, the Bureau of Labor reports that tech sector positions are clearly the most lucrative. Software and application developers are expected to earn roughly $98,000 per year, with computer systems analysts coming in at about $85,000. Demand for these positions from businesses looking for new hires, due to an increased reliance on computer science across verticals, is expected to increase nearly 20 percent by 2024. Only the medical sector, which is experiencing a boom due largely to the aging baby boomer generation, comes close—they’ll see a 38 percent increase in demand, but only a median salary of $21,000.
Today’s fourth graders will be entering the labor force in 2024. At that time, employers will be looking for digital literacy as a prerequisite to fill these positions. But schools today have been slow to introduce courses that will spur technology education. In a 2015 Gates Foundation study, only 38 percent of the 3,100 teachers surveyed said that technology plays a primary role in their classrooms.
While administrators may be slow to act, some of the biggest names from the tech sector are championing the cause of integrating digital skills, such as coding, into classrooms. Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook, the CEOs of Facebook and Apple, respectively, have committed $48 million to the effort, and recently paired with governors and educators to ask them to provide supplemental funding from Congress to the tune of $250 million.
Hadi Partovi, founder of Code.org, has been working closely with these tech titans. She argues, “The breadth of support shows that computer science isn’t just a tech problem anymore, it’s an America problem.”
Failure to act quickly will leave today’s students struggling to keep up in an increasingly globalized and digitized world when they enter the labor force. The repercussions may in fact resonate across sectors, as more industries turn to digital platforms to conduct business. From developing advanced cybersecurity protection to advancing the scope of healthcare, the country as a whole has a lot riding on tomorrow’s brightest coders.
For some school districts, a complete overhaul of their technology capabilities may be needed. For others, students just need to get some hands-on experience with devices. Whichever camp your district falls into, you can help your students better prepare for the future by speaking to our dedicated professionals at Cox Business, who have a customized solutions that align to the changing needs of today’s schools. We'll work closely with your school and help you understand how E-Rate can apply to your specific circumstances. Visit Cox Business to learn more.
