Education and Economic Prosperity
It is well documented that higher education confers advantages to the individual, in terms of employment, earnings and social capital.
Well Paying Jobs Are Linked to Levels of Education
But increasing educational attainment in California also is critical for broad economic vitality. And current projections suggest that the demand for highly educated workers in California in the future will not be met by the expected supply.
One reason for this gap is that job growth is being driven by growth in demand for professional and managerial occupations that often require an advanced degree.
California Firms Will Create More Jobs for Knowledge Workers
Meanwhile, other nations are making substantial strides in improving educational attainment and investing in their educational infrastructures. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development produces an annual report measuring global education on a range of indicators. For entry rates into postsecondary education, for example, its 2005 report ranks eight other nations ahead of the United States.
What other issues should we consider?