>No, they mean there is a greater lack of engineers compared to other occupations requiring similar levels of education and therefore we should put more effort into educating and importing engineers.
Importing engineers is just poaching engineers from other countries. It's the same thing.
Educating engineers is a matter of compensation. Given a high enough salary people will get the necessary degree. The only other thing you can do is cut education quality and just let more people pass.
To be fair, if engineers from other countries can earn more money in America, that's an indication that their skills are better put to use here than elsewhere.
Importing engineers is just poaching engineers from other countries. It's the same thing.
Educating engineers is a matter of compensation. Given a high enough salary people will get the necessary degree. The only other thing you can do is cut education quality and just let more people pass.