SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KUTV) — A new report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute showed that postsecondary education will be needed for the large majority of Utah jobs over the next five years.
A projected 70.6% of Utah jobs will require some level of postsecondary education by 2031, according to the report.
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shared that Utah has a sustained demand for a skilled workforce.
The report, which was commissioned by Envision Utah, finds that higher educational completion is linked to higher earnings, lower poverty, better health outcomes, and greater civic participation.
“This research reinforces that higher education will continue to be a reliable path for getting a good job, even as our economy changes over the next decade,” said Travis Allred, senior education program manager at Envision Utah. “While higher education will need to continue to evolve to meet the needs of Utah’s future economy, most good jobs with a strong employment outlook and high wages in the future will still require higher education.”
Many people in Utah are continuing their education and reaping those benefits, with Utah ranking third in the nation for postsecondary completion with an attainment rate of 61.7%.
While Utah ranks high nationally, researchers said there is still a need to increase educational attainment, as there are disparities among different demographic groups within the state.
Andrea Brandley, the report’s author and a senior education analyst at the Gardner Institute, said, “Utah’s economic strength depends on a skilled workforce.”
“Increasing postsecondary attainment and aligning credentials with workforce needs are essential strategies for expanding opportunities and sustaining Utah’s economic momentum,” she said.
The full report can be accessed here.
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