Comment: ACS initiative advocates for preparing tomorrow’s skilled technical workforce

The theme of my presidential succession years is “Building Chemistry Careers Inclusively.” Thus, the federal mandate to prepare the next-generation chemical workforce caught my attention.

What is the driving force for this focus on the chemical workforce? Why should we, the members of the American Chemical Society, be aware of and participate in this initiative? In 2024, ACS had two webinars discussing how the CHIPS and Science Act represents a significant workforce effort. It is notable for its emphasis on advancing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education at higher levels, as well as for providing crucial programs and resources to help train skilled technical workers (STW) who do not have a bachelor’s degree. The jobs are available not only in the semiconductor and microelectronics businesses but throughout the broader chemistry enterprise, including advanced materials, energy technology. These jobs promote STEM knowledge such as the safe use of chemicals, data collection, and analysis. National reports projected that over 3 million jobs for qualified technical professionals would be unfilled in 2022. Our chemical technical professionals, in positions that require a high level of technical knowledge but not a PhD, are projected to need over 400,000 new colleagues by 2033.

A recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, The Importance of Chemical Research to the US Economy, explored the contributions of the chemistry enterprise to the greater economy and of chemical engineers to the chemical economy. Chapter 5 of the report discusses how to prepare and empower the next generation. Key takeaways include that diversity in the chemical workforce is essential for the productivity of the chemical economy and is supported through inclusive and equitable practices in the classroom and workplace; that effective mentorship at all career levels is important for the success of individual members of the workforce; and that institutions serving minorities excel at recruiting and retaining diverse chemistry cohorts.

ACS has numerous, well-established education programs for nurturing the career plans of students starting in high school through graduate school, but these programs do not address the needs of the skilled technical workforce. Inspired by the recommendations set by the National Science Board’s 2019 report The Skilled Technical Workforce, ACS launched a 5-year strategic initiative in 2022 to foster a skilled technical workforce. This initiative focuses on recruiting and engaging students as potential employees who can fulfill skilled technical workforce roles in the chemical sciences—roles that do not require a bachelor’s degree for entry. ACS is striving to connect the skilled technical workforce of tomorrow, or chemical technical professionals (CTPs) with job opportunities to help close the gap between open positions and suitable workers. The major emphasis has been education and training, especially at technical and 2-year colleges. Examples of long-standing programs that support CTP education are those at Cape Fear Community College, Community College of Rhode Island, and Delta College in Michigan. ACS also has a program that provides up to $20,000 in grant funding to technical and 2-year colleges that offer programs for CTP training and preparation.

It is important to note that in many instances industry expands the definition of CTP to include those with certificates, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in laboratory support roles, using terms such as associate scientist, technician, and specialist. This creates even more chances for us to demonstrate the broad opportunities that the chemistry enterprise offers. Our efforts to cultivate the STW include collaborations with the American Association of Chemistry Teachers and the Committee on Chemical Technical Professionals, as well as connections with the Committee on Corporation Associates. Indeed, CTPs already have a home in ACS, which is stepping up its work to increase the pool of technicians and provide support for them in the STEM enterprise.

My call to action for ACS members is to participate in growing awareness of CTPs as one of the many pathways to STEM careers. Many students do not realize that there is a demand for CTPs and that they do not need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for these jobs. Another action is asking our industry members to partner with the STW initiative by creating pathways to CTP careers within their companies.

More information about the initiative, as well as CTP stories, and a quiz on career decision-making are in the September 2024 BrandLab Discovery Report, Empowering Chemical Technical Professionals, available at www.acs.org/discoveryreports and the initiative website, www.acs.org/preparectp. Please direct your questions to John-David R. Rocha, program manager, ACS Education Division.

Views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of C&EN or ACS.