Gov. Gary Herbert presents plan to increase number of Utahns with degrees

The need for more STEM students was a frequent topic during Monday's education summit. Herbert spoke anecdotally about businesses that had expressed their frustrations to him over their inability to find enough skilled workers for their open positions. He said there needs to be a renewed emphasis on STEM careers to better align with the demands of the marketplace. The PACE Plan calls for 90 percent of graduates to be employed in their field of study and to limit the number of job openings that go unfilled because of a lack of trained applicants.

Jeff Strohl, director of research at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, spoke about Utah's educational challenges. Fielding a question about the value of liberal arts, or generalized education, Strohl said that while STEM careers have a clear advantage in earning potential, there are a number of benefits to a generalized education — like good citizenry and educational adequacy — that are more difficult to measure.

He said STEM careers currently make up roughly 5 percent of the U.S. labor market and are not expected to grow beyond 7 percent.

"We've got to balance these things, and I would hate to get rid of liberal arts just because they don't earn as much," he said.

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