While economics and statistics might not conjure the traditional vision of global development work, both – along with technology, science and engineering – are receiving increased attention as a critical aspect not only of development work, but of filling crucial roles in the workforce and spurring innovation.
“We’re seeing a need for more economic skills as they relate to more nontraditional areas,” said Arvil Gonzalez, an energy and environmental management and recruitment specialist for Engility. Environmental economics and the ability to calculate the current existence value of a forest as well as its value a few years into the future can provide a greater incentive for conservation, for example.
With so much talk in the private sector of an increase in STEM – science, technology, education and mathematics – educated individuals helping to fill a “skills gap” and a call for a steady flow of talent for new innovation, the question is how these applications to improve quality of life and information will play into global development.