Data Engineering 2.0 and United States Workforce: Social Implications of Technology

Summary form only given, as follows. The complete presentation was not made available for publication as part of the conference proceedings. The United States in the past has had a strong dominance in terms of employers leveraging technology platforms, but it is currently facing a challenge, because as the rest of world has invested in and grown their labor force in terms of long-term employment, and education the United States has lessened its investment. Rising Above the Gathering Storm documented this global leveling and argued that the United States was at a crossroads, in order for the United States to maintain the global leadership and competitiveness in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that are critical to achieving national goals today, it must invest in research, encourage innovation, and grow a strong, talented, and innovative workforce. Gathering Storm resonated strongly in both the executive and legislative branches of government, resulting in the American Competitive Incentive Act, the law and substantial appropriations through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This paper examines how United State can leverage new training and workforce models in terms of Engineering, particularly Data Engineering to resurrect dead capital, including dormant human capital. Since digital platforms has turned STEM labor into a commodity to be bought, and sold, into a disrupting force for established markets within the United States.