Can aerospace industry eliminate brain-drain?

Oklahoma's education and economic development leaders must work together to meet the aerospace industry's growing appetite for jobs, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins says.

Askins, who spent two days in aerospace meetings this month in Washington, said education leaders should continue to collaborate and develop coursework and degree programs in aerospace.

Other states also are looking at ways to attract and keep aerospace businesses, said Askins, who attended an Aerospace Revitalization Task Force Roundtable and a meeting of the Aerospace States Association.

"In Oklahoma, these are jobs that are well above the average income for the state," Askins said.

It's important for the state to retain and attract aerospace jobs, she said.

"It's an opportunity for good-paying jobs, which certainly contributes to our economy, but it's also an opportunity to tell our young people that if they go to school and achieve the skills and degrees in these areas that we'll have good-paying jobs for them. We can help eliminate our brain-drain to other states."

Education emphasis needed, Askins says

It's essential to get students interested earlier in science, math, engineering and technology - areas of study necessary in the aerospace industry, Askins said.

"If we can get students interested in these areas of study then we can tell industry we're training a work force for you - come here, expand here," Askins said.

"We cannot do it if we don't establish a work force, and the work force is at a critical state all across the United States," she added.

Oklahoma is targeted to experience a shortage of about 200 aerospace engineers and 400 electrical engineers by 2014, according to recent findings of the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development.

Shortages of additional engineering specialty jobs are expected also, according to the report, which was based on a 2006 survey of Oklahoma's aerospace employers and industry representatives.

"I believe that the people who can fill that shortage are in school today," Askins said. "We can't wait until the high school level or the college level to get their attention because they've got to have strong basics.

"It doesn't mean that we have to teach algebra to first-graders, but there are certain concepts that can begin to be taught at an early age that will allow learning and understanding of that learning earlier than we are used to," she said.

"We must be able to do that to compete in a global economy."

Enrollments up

The State Regents for Higher Education report that between fall 2001 and fall 2005 enrollments in Oklahoma's bachelor's degree programs in aerospace engineering grew by 55 percent and enrollments in masters' programs grew by nearly 130 percent.