This article highlights research in "The STEM Dilemma: Skills That Matter to Regions", which was recently published by the Upjohn Institute. The book looks at the regional workforce through the lens of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with regional occupations. This fine-grained approach uses data in the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) database to identify differences in regional human capital concentrations. The O*NET database scores the importance and the required level of 120 individual KSA attributes for each occupation. Matching the occupational KSA attributes to wage and employment data available from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) enables examination of the actual human capital differences present in regional economies and answers some important questions: (1) To what extent do STEM occupations drive modern regional economies; (2) Do STEM occupations provide better wages for regional employees; (3) What other KSAs represent valuable regional human capital; and (4) Is there a relationship between the KSAs in demand by regional occupations and the welfare of the region itself? Guided by the sharp policy focus on STEM study, this research set out to explore the effect of STEM skill concentrations on regional well-being. This research clarifies how human capital development functions in the larger economy and how differences in human capital deployment impact regional well-being. These insights should help policymakers shape more targeted and effective place-based policies.