This document discusses the gap between the number of computer science students and available jobs in the field. It notes that while there will be over 1 million unfilled programming jobs by 2020, the number of computer science graduates has declined since 2003. This is partly because computer science is only offered in 5% of U.S. high schools. The document argues that computer science education should be more widely available as it teaches important problem-solving skills and can lead to well-paying jobs across many industries.

1. AMERICA’S
UNTAPPED
OPPORTUNITY

2. STUDENTS
Computer Science Students
(high school)
All other math and science
JOBSAll other
math and
science
Computer
Science Jobs
THE JOB/STUDENT GAP IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
Sources: College Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics

3. FEWER COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS THAN 2003
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Male Female
Sources: National Science Foundation, ACM
Why the decline in
college? Because 17%
fewer high schools
teach CS

4. 2012 HIGH SCHOOL A.P. ENROLLMENT
Exposure to CS leads to the
best-paying jobs in the world.
But it’s only available in 5% of
high schools
Source: College Board
Only 15% of these
are women, and
only 8% are
students of color!

5. -
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
1,000,000 MORE JOBS THAN STUDENTS BY 2020
Sources: BLS, NSF, Bay Area Council Economic Institute
400,000 computer
science graduates
1,000,000 unfilled
programming jobs*
$500 billion
opportunity
* Each software job supports 4.3 new neighborhood jobs!

6. • 67% of software jobs are outside the tech industry – in
banking, retail, government, entertainment, etc
• China requires CS to graduate. UK, Australia are next
• We need ALL our children prepared for the 21st century
A FOUNDATIONAL SKILL, NOT JUST VOCATIONAL
“Knowledge of computer
programming is as important as
knowledge of anatomy when it comes
to medical research or clinical care”
Larry Corey,
President, Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center

7. Everybody in this country
should learn how to
program a computer…
…because it teaches you
how to think.
Steve Jobs

8. • Studying CS in HS = more likely to study in college
– Students who study AP CS in high school are twice as
likely to take a class in college, and 6 times more likely
to major in it in college. (Source: College Board)
– One study showed that students who study intro CS in
high school are twice as likely to major in it in college.
(Source: Springfield, PA)
• State policy can increase enrollment / representation
– In the states where CS courses can satisfy existing
math/science graduation requirements, enrollment
per AP CS class is 50% higher than the other states. In
these states, representation by African Americans and
Hispanics in AP CS is 37% higher than in the other
states (Source: College Board)
APPENDIX DATA

9. • CS helps students with math
– Students exposed to Intro CS early on perform better at math. (Source:
longitudinal study of students in Springfield PA, before/after CS was required
of all students)
APPENDIX DATA