We’ve heard for decades that American education is failing and technical jobs are being given to Asians because there aren’t enough Americans to fill the need. But then there’s this from Business Week:

Because of fuzzy definitions of “engineering graduate,” estimates of Indian and Chinese numbers can be wildly exaggerated, while America’s are understated.

Just look at the numbers using consistent criteria. If one counts people who study computer science and information technology as engineers — as India does — then the U.S. grants 134,000 four-year engineering degrees annually. Indeed, the U.S. is producing far more engineers per capita than either of Asia’s emerging superpowers. Indian schools grants only 122,000 four-year engineering degrees (and almost as many three-year degrees), while China generates 351,000.

“SPREADING PROPAGANDA.” But China’s statistics may still be inflated because the definition of an engineer can vary widely from province to province. In some cases, auto mechanics are included. “The numbers seem to include anybody who has studied anything technical,” Wadhwa says.

The bottom line is that America’s engineering crisis is a myth, Wadhwa argues.

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Engineering,
Offshoring.