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.
To help states realize economic improvement, this report includes a roadmap of critical steps states may take to establish policies that could help them close their skills gaps.
