Summary & Highlights
• Over the next several years, RI’s still-struggling economy is projected to see job growth, but primarily in jobs requiring minimal education. A key question is how to spark growth in higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs.
• Examination of recent URI, RIC, and CCRI graduates working in-state provides insight into our educational and employment landscape. Certain technical fields may be under-represented among graduates in our workforce. Degree and certificate holders are also commonly employed in industries that usually require lower levels of attainment. Some fields of study seem to render their graduates versatile and valued in the workforce, in other cases the college-to-career connection is indirect.
• Given the variety of wage and employment profiles among Rhode Island’s industries, further industry-specific research may be valuable. The healthcare industry in particular stands out in a number of ways, including its current size, its growth potential, and the high concentration of workers with health-related degrees.
