California Counts, Report Can California Import Enough College Graduates to Meet Workforce Needs? By Deborah Reed, Hans Johnson May 23, 2007 Economic projections for California indicate a continuation of the trend toward a more highly skilled economy. But projections of educational attainment for the future population tend to predict a wide gap between the levels of skills the population is likely to possess and the level of skills the economy is likely to need. This issue of California Counts assesses whether California will be able to attract enough college graduates from other states and other countries to close that gap. The authors conclude that because of the sheer numbers of migrants required and other factors, it is unlikely that migration alone will solve the problem.
California Counts, Report California’s Community College Students By Christopher Jepsen, Ria Sengupta Bhatt Nov 15, 2006 California's community college system is the largest postsecondary education system in the country—with more than 2.5 million mostly part-time students enrolled in more than 100 campuses. This issue of California Counts takes an in-depth look at this population. It finds an extremely diverse student body in terms of race/ethnicity, age, educational level, and academic goals in school. However, few students accomplish their goals, such as transferring to a four-year institution or earning an associate's degree. This is a major challenge for the system and the state because community colleges enroll over 70 percent of all public higher education students in California.
Report The Changing Role of Education in the California Labor Market By Julian Betts Sep 1, 2000 It has been well-documented that the economic returns to education—that is, the wage gains associated with additional schooling—have risen dramatically in the United States since the late 1970s. In this study, the author examines the extent to which trends in California reflect those of the nation. This report examines: Changes in the educational composition of California's workforce between 1970 and 1997 and how these changes compare with those in the rest of the nation. The extent to which California's postsecondary education sector met the demand for skilled workers between 1970 and 1990. The overall trend in the wage premium earned by college graduates, as well as the trends for high school graduates and those with less than 12 years of schooling. How these trends varied across industrial and regional sectors in California and between native Californians, natives from elsewhere, and immigrants.
