State Officials Push Higher Education In State Economy

With 200-thousand jobs in Massachusetts expected to be open in the next three years, state officials say a college education is more important than ever.

Dr. Carlos Santiago, the Commissioner of the MA Department of Higher Education, visited UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday.

Santiago stressed the importance of a college education in massachusetts' knowledge-based economy.

With more minority groups graduating from high school, Santiago says students who never thought of going to college before need to consider it more now than ever.

"There is a demographic shift occurring in Massachusetts, and what we're finding is among the groups that are growing the fastest they're the most underserved in terms of higher education," he said.

According to studies, among the thousands of new jobs expected to be created in the state, about 72% of them will require a postsecondary education.

Santiago says with around 33% of Massachusetts' labor force expected to retire within the next ten years, there will be a huge need for educated workers.

"Massachusetts' economy is not like other economies. We're a knowledge-driven economy," says Santiago.