Workers Are Becoming Better Educated, But The Pace Of Improvement Has Slowed

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? In the New Economy, which puts a premium on speed, flexibility, and innovation, educational attainment increasingly determines both the opportunities and rewards for individuals. An educated workforce is critical to increasing per capita incomes and reducing income inequality.

THE TREND: () The share of the workforce with less than a high school education has declined from over 35 percent in 1970 to less than 11 percent now, though the pace of decline has slowed in the 1990s. An increasing share of the workforce that once only finished high school is now going on for more education, either at a four-year college or a two-year community college. While the share of workers finishing college has continued to increase, in the 1990s, its increase has slowed, in part because of the continued increase in the real cost of higher education. This slow-down, coupled with a more rapid increase in the share of jobs requiring a college degree, is one factor contributing to the increased wage gap between college-educated workers and those with less than a college degree.

THE DATA:

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Index Home | Introduction
SECTION I | SECTION II | SECTION III
Productivity Paradox | Knowledge Economy
Nine Myths | Data Sources | Endnotes | The Authors

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