Mike Eilerman, Tri Star’s Information Technology/Cybersecurity instructor is currently serving on the State of Ohio’s State Committee on Computer Science (SCCS). The committee was formed to advocate for the field of computer science. The committee began meeting in November 2021 and recently created a report with 10 recommendations for the expansion and promotion of computer science in schools in Ohio.

Highlights of the report filed with the Governor’s office offered this information regarding the great need for more educational opportunities for all in the computer science field:

“Every day, Ohio employers are working to fill openings in computer science (CS) – from data analytics to cloud computing, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, programming, networking and beyond.”*

“According to JobsOhio, Ohio employer demand for CS talent is nearly 4.7 times the current supply in Ohio. JobsOhio estimates this gap could widen by approximately 11,000 jobs per year. In a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the mean earning potential for CS occupations is $85,970, or 48% above Ohio’s median household income of $58,116.” *

“In particular, expertise in cybersecurity, data science, and machine learning are in high demand. Solving Ohio’s CS workforce gap will require increasing our state’s educational pipeline from K12 to postsecondary degrees while also upskilling Ohio’s existing adult workforce. Unfortunately, the CS talent production in Ohio lags other states.”*

The SCCS is currently seeking public input on the report. The full report can be found at: https://education.ohio.gov/Media/Ed-Connection/Aug-8-2022/State-of-Ohio-Computer-Science-Plan-public-comment

* Quotes are taken directly from the report which may be found at the above link.