Australia is undergoing digital disruption that is set to dramatically change the workforce.
Accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) predicts that the growing ubiquity of technology will dramatically change the workforce with 44 per cent of current jobs likely to vanish in two decades.
PwCs A Smart Move report forecasts that 75 per cent of the fastest growing occupations will require skills in the STEM fields.
However, as Australia shifts into a digital economy and increases its demand for more STEM skills, student participation rates in these subjects have dropped in recent years.
Sydney Universitys Dr Rachel Wilson says the declining student participation in STEM subjects is largely due to a lack of qualified teachers in mathematics and science.
Year 11 and 12 students in Victoria, NSW and the ACT currently dont have to study maths or science.
Dr Wilson believes mathematics and science should become compulsory high school subjects for Australia to become competitive against our regional neighbours.
A push to make maths or science compulsory for Year 11 and 12 students by the federal government was rejected by the states in May this year.
In the meantime, AIIAs Rob Fitzpatrick says it is clear we wont have enough skilled STEM workers trained to meet the demand in the short-term future.
Recognising the importance of STEM skills for a digital future, the federal government has allocated 65 million dollars to fund a range of initiatives to increase participation among children and young people in STEM subjects.
But Dr Rachel Wilson says what Australia needs is a long-term plan in order to compete against other countries in the age of digital disruption.
