Shortfall in college graduates predicted
Help Wanted: One Million College Graduates, California residency required
While you might not see this headline soon, news is that by 2025 the Golden State will be starved for college-educated workers to fill available jobs.
A recent report by the Public Policy Institute of California predicts 41% of all jobs will need a college degree, but only 35% of working adults will have the necessary degree. Baby Boomers (educated in the 1960’s and 1970’s) will be retired. Younger workers are less educated.
Why is this?
California ranks 18th among the 20 largest states for high school graduates who enroll in college. Also, only half of incoming freshmen graduate within six years. California colleges need to graduate 60,000 more students annually.
The report suggests some necessary steps to achieve this goal:
- Make it easier for students to transfer from community colleges to four-year colleges. More than 70% of community college students don’t transfer.
- Design programs at CSU and UC campuses to help students stay in school.
- Ensure more high school graduates are eligible to enroll in UC and CSU systems.
How realistic these goals are in a time of economic turmoil remains to be seen.
