Identifying Future Workforce Needs

ORAU Leads the Way in Analyzing Data to Determine Science and Technology Workforce Needs

With the support of reliable statistics and careful data analysis, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) has become an industry leader in assessing the needs of our nation’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce. Often referred to as STEM, these research careers are essential for the United States to compete in a global economy.

Through our comprehensive, Research-Based Approach that involves workforce needs assessment and recruitment, we can match any organization’s research needs with hundreds of highly qualified applicants. Similarly, we also connect applicants to research appointments with organizations and mentors that complement their individual research career goals.

Beyond research appointments, we also conduct a variety of annual and semi-annual studies to assess labor market trends. One ORAU report prepared through a contract to manage the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) looked at nuclear engineering enrollments and degrees data, and the findings suggested that numbers of nuclear engineering graduates and enrollees are on the rise.

This is significant considering a 2008 study conducted by the American Physical Society found that 35 percent of the current nuclear workforce will reach retirement age in the next five years. This increase in demand for nuclear engineering education is expected to continue to rise even if the number of nuclear power reactors remains the same through 2050.

Whether it’s looking at the rate of foreign doctorate students who stay in the U.S. upon graduating or analyzing the number of health physics enrollees and graduates, we are providing reliable data so that our customers can ensure they have the intellectual and human capital necessary for responding to critical, national science and technology needs.