ANSI Members Join White House-Backed Coalition of Companies to Stem Engineering Gap

In an effort to stem America's growing engineering gap and create 6,300 new opportunities for hands-on, technical training in the field, thirteen American National Standards Institute (ANSI) members have joined a coalition of industry leaders committed to doubling the number of engineering internships they will offer in 2012.

The initiative was announced Wednesday by President Barack Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, in partnership with the Business Council, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and ANSI members the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Chemistry Council.

"For America to stay competitive in the global market, we must train and retain the world's best engineers," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. "Working together, private industry and the public sector can position the U.S. to continue to lead in science and innovation in the 21st century, creating good jobs and laying the foundation for a robust economy."

Between 1990 and 2010, overall college graduation levels in the U.S. have increased about 50 percent, yet the number of engineering graduates has remained flat at around 120,000 graduates per year. In contrast, roughly 1 million engineers graduate yearly from universities in India and China, putting the U.S. at risk of a significant shortfall in terms of qualified experts in the field.

"I applaud the many ANSI members who have joined the coalition and are helping to lead the charge for a stronger, more competitive American workforce," said ANSI president and CEO S. Joe Bhatia. "As the Standards Boost Business campaign gives proof, investing in engineering and standards professionals is absolutely critical to U.S. competitiveness and the future of American jobs."

Read the White House press release for further details.

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President Obama formed the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness in January of 2011 for the purpose of bolstering the United States economy by fostering job creation, innovation, growth, and competitiveness as the country enters a new phase of economic recovery. The core mission of the Council is to promote growth by investing in American businesses to encourage hiring, to educate and train American workers to compete in the global economy, and to attract the best jobs and businesses in the world to the United States.