Scientist shortage? Maybe not

related: GE's CEO, Jeff Immelt recently argued (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124603518881261729.html" rel="nofollow">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124603518881261729.html</a>) that an American renewal will come from a culture that celebrates invention over consumption.<p>"Engineering has been underemphasized in this country for a generation. Our high schools fall far short of the mark in science and math. This helps explain why only four percent of American college students have chosen engineering as a profession.<p>At the same time, American companies must reinvigorate their technical efforts…Technology is what makes people and countries feel wealthy… Technology is also the source of competitive advantage.<p>An American renewal will be built on technology. GE’s R&#38;D budget has not been cut. And that’s a course of action I’d recommend to every company that wants to get through the economic crisis even stronger than before."

There is no such thing as "shortages". There may not be enough of something at a price YOU are willing to pay, but that doesn't make it a shortage.

"Only problem: We may not have jobs for them all."<p>Bullshit. Engineers and programmers are among the few professions who can create their own jobs, plus some. Where do people think these employers came from in the first place? There's no shortage of opportunities for someone to invent a new product and build a company around it, and inventors are often engineers.