Policy and Research Analyst UW system, Wisconsin, United States
Session Abstract: Despite a 30% increase in degrees awarded in high-demand fields over the past decade, a persistent gap remains between the University of Wisconsin (UW) System's graduate output and the state's workforce needs. This study provides a quantitative analysis of this alignment by comparing graduate supply data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) with workforce demand projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Through a detailed gap analysis, the study identifies and measures specific talent shortages and surpluses across critical sectors, including STEM, healthcare, finance, and data and computer science. The findings will yield data-driven policy recommendations for academic programming and resource allocation, along with a baseline model to forecast future workforce needs.
Keywords: IPEDS, Workforce Projection, Workforce Development, Academic Program Planning
