The Lumina Foundation reports in its recently released “A Stronger Nation” that a total of 45.3 percent of working-age Americans held a postsecondary credential in 2014. Of those, 40.4 percent have a two- or four-year degree, and 4.9 percent have earned postsecondary certificates. The total number of individuals with postsecondary degrees is up slightly from 40 percent in 2013, and this year is the first year that the number of adults with certificates has been reported. The report also includes a breakdown of the numbers by demographic characteristics and geographically by state and major metropolitan areas.
The Lumina Foundation has been focused in recent years on raising postsecondary attainment rates. Their national “Goal 2025” is for 60 percent of adults to hold a postsecondary credential by the year 2025. While this year’s numbers show positive growth, they are still a long way from achieving the goals set by Lumina and endorsed by many other groups and policymakers. “The secret to individual and societal success is talent—the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our citizens—but right now, our nation lacks sufficient talent to meet the demands of the global job market,” said Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation.
A related report from Lumina and Gallup shows that despite the slow growth in postsecondary attainment, Americans strongly believe in the importance of postsecondary education. The 2015 Gallup-Lumina Foundation Study of the American Public's Opinion on Higher Education found that 70 percent of adults said it was “very important” to get a degree or professional certificate beyond high school. Seventy percent also responded that it would be even more important in the future to have a postsecondary credential.
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