Last month, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity released a special report in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the National Skills Coalition on the challenges of building a skilled workforce in the South amidst the challenges of an ever-changing economy. significant demographic shifts, and the barriers to workforce entry faced by a significant portion of the region’s population.
Following is an except from the report’s executive summary:
A new day has dawned in the South. No longer is a high school education and a willingness to work hard sufficient to secure a family supporting job. In fact, the majority of all jobs in the U.S. labor market require some postsecondary education or training. To effectively compete in today’s marketplace, states must have skilled workforces.
For the southern United States, this new environment requires a shift. Economies once built on low-skill industries must now compete globally for jobs that require training beyond high school. Most of these jobs are middle-skill jobs, requiring education or training beyond high school but not a four-year college degree.
Click here to access the full report.