STEM workforce retention and preparation: Landscape analysis of STEM students in the workforce across Texas

There is a pressing need to increase the number of STEM graduates within the U.S. and to ensure those graduating with STEM degree are retained in workforce. The shortages within STEM fields impact global competitiveness, economic growth, and employability of the population. Academic institutions have varying initiatives to expand the pipeline of STEM students but it has been difficult to measure how these initiatives translate into workforce outcomes. This article explores the ties academic experience with workforce perceptions and outcomes of STEM graduates across the State of Texas to understand the landscape of STEM student lived experiences in industry, focusing on both retention and preparedness. A sub-focus of this article was to understand differences in outcomes and experiences of STEM students participating in a specific initiative, the Houston-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation programming, an NSF-funded STEM retention program, graduates and their non-LSAMP peers in the STEM workforce. This landscape analysis utilized a survey (n = 1743) of Texas graduates to understand undergraduate experiences, graduation metrics, job sector representation, salary data, retention trends, and workforce preparedness. Our recommendations and findings help identify areas in which industry and higher education can better collaborate to potentially improve STEM retention and workforce preparedness.