Anthony P. Carnevale - Nicole Smith -  Jeff Strohl

• Read the Full Report (PDF)*

  • Read the Appendices (PDF)

• Executive Summary (PDF)

• Press Release (PDF)

• Access the State-Level Analysis

• Watch the webcast of the report release or view the PowerPoint Presentation from the event.

"America is slowly coming out of the Recession of 2007—only to find itself on a collision course with the future: not enough Americans are completing college . . . By 2018, we will need 22 million new workers with college degrees—but will fall short of that number by at least 3 million postsecondary degrees . . . At a time when every job is precious, this shortfall will mean lost economic opportunity for millions of American workers."

 -Help Wanted, Executive Summary

The report presents a new approach that answers some critical questions about the emerging economy, including:

• When will the jobs come back?

• Where will the jobs be? Which states? Which industries? Which occupations?

• What postsecondary certificates and degrees will be required?

• Will the education system be able to keep up?

• How much will it cost to fund the postsecondary education America needs?

*The technical report on the Center's methodology can be found here.