2000 CEOSE Biennial
Report to Congress

Executive Summary

Virtually every process and product used today incorporates information technology developed over the last two decades. New advances and discoveries in science have resulted in a wide range of innovations including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, efficient and reliable sources of fuel, and weather forecasting systems. There is a personal computer on almost every office desk in America. The Internet is the library of choice for many students. Business – including the business of education – is conducted by computer and in real time. And the fast pace of technological change shows no signs of slowing.

The transformation to a wired world is fueling an unparalleled explosion in SMET jobs and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 1.9 million new jobs will be created in SMET fields by 2008. While the economy as a whole is expected to provide about 14% more jobs during the coming decade, SMET employment will grow by 51%, almost four times faster than all other occupational areas. Positions in some of the scientific disciplines, such as computer engineering, computer support specialties, and systems analysis, will double.