According to the Utah Foundation, our state is falling behind in its rate of growth of college-educated adults compared to the national increase of college graduates.
This is a troubling statistic because it could make Utah a less-attractive alternative for high-paying employers considering Utah as a base of operations. We need smart thinkers working to attract the best jobs here.
State officials should develop some initiatives that stress the importance of higher education for our adults. If we lose potential employers due to a shortage of well-educated workers, there is the consequence of well-educated Utahns leaving our state to find well-compensated employment elsewhere.
Here are some findings from the UF report:
* Utah women have fallen behind the national average in higher education for the past 20 years.
* Among those between the ages of 25 and 34, Utah men are even with their national counterparts in earning degrees. Utah women, although they receive more degrees than men, have slipped considerably behind the national average for women.
* Also, the percentage of Utah women entering college is below the national average.
* Perhaps most distressingly, Utah's percent of those enrolled in college and universities has drifted toward the national average. It used to be much higher.
We need our state officials, as well as education professionals, to increase the numbers of adult Utahns who go to college. It's time to brainstorm and think of ideas to get more students in schools and graduating from colleges and universities.
If we've learned anything from the recent recession, it's that states must retain good, well-paying jobs. Higher education is the key to a well-paid job. It's that simple -- time to get the word out.
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