Nearly 1.5 million computing jobs will become available over the next five years. The problem is, even in this economy, there will only be enough qualified graduates to fill about 30% of those positions. The reason for the disconnect is clear: While the tech industry is changing at a break-neck pace and creating new jobs in the process, workers simply aren’t graduating fast enough – or with the necessary technical skills – to keep up with the demand.

It’s a huge problem, to be sure, but at least part of the solution starts with a simple acronym: STEM. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. As a nation, we continually fall behind other countries in these fields and, as a result, we’re in danger of falling behind on innovation. STEM education takes a long-term view. Implementing a STEM-focused curriculum as early as elementary school allows educators to spark an interest in these subjects at an impressionable age and to encourage that interest to grow throughout high school and beyond. By the time students enter the work force, they will be better prepared to thrive in high-tech jobs. The private sector has a critical role to play in this evolution.