Software’s Economic Impact + The Drive for Talent

Software is making a tremendous contribution to the U.S. economy, according to a soon-to-be-released report from BSA | The Software Alliance. BSA President and CEO Victoria A. Espinel will share related figures outlining how large that contribution is, and its effect on national and state GDP and new jobs.

Yet in a climate where software’s innovation and influence continues to grow, the U.S. Department of Labor projects that by 2020, U.S. universities will only be able to fill less than one-third of 1.4 million computer specialist job openings. How do we meet the challenge of developing so many skilled coders? How can government and businesses work together to fill the talent pipeline? 

Join us for concrete numbers on software’s economic contribution—including related jobs and GDP figures—as well as a stimulating discussion from commerce, software, STEM education, and coding leaders on what can be done to fill the coding gap. 

Follow the conversation online using #softwareimpact and following @OTI.

Participants: 

Victoria A. Espinel 
President & CEO, BSA | The Software Alliance 

Cameron Wilson 
COO & VP, Government Relations, Code.org 

Melissa Moritz 
Deputy Director of STEM, Department of Education 

Ryan Burke
Senior Policy Advisor, National Economic Council White House

Mark Doms, PhD 
Former Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, Department of Commerce

Moderator: 

Lisa Guernsey 
Director of New America’s Learning Technologies Project