A recent Utah Foundation survey of 151 local companies found that 71 percent of them had some level of difficulty finding qualified employees. The study also found that 68 percent of companies are offering below-median wages for positions that are difficult to fill.
The 66 by 2020 goal, combined with an area of performance funding dedicated to meeting workforce needs, has helped institution leaders refocus their efforts, according to Holland.
“I think it’s had a great power to focus people’s attention on the fact that we definitely need more of our adult population with postsecondary degrees,” Holland said. “I think we still have a lot of work cut out, though, to hit that goal.”
Staying on track for meeting the goal will become more difficult with each year as the number of required degrees goes up while enrollment growth rates are expected to decline.
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