Jill Avery-Stoss, Chief Operating Officer at the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development.
WILKES-BARRE – Jill Avery-Stoss, COO at the institute, said this week that by examining indicators of education such as enrollment in vocational and technical centers, completion of postgraduate studies and college degrees, it is possible to assess education and future economic development on strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to prepare tomorrow’s workforce for employment in business and industry in Northeast Pennsylvania.
According to Avery-Stoss, emerging industries and occupations require a diverse range of education and training opportunities, including apprenticeship programs, associate degree or trade school programs, on-the-job training, certificates, diplomas, and college and university degrees.
“For example, professional and technical education at the high school level is a pathway to acquiring the professional skills that translate into economic opportunity,” said Avery-Stoss. “Between Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne Counties, 2,599 students were enrolled in CTCs in 2022.”
In both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, this total has decreased compared to 2019 and 2020. Wayne County is one of the few counties in northeastern Pennsylvania without its own full CTC.
Avery-Stoss said it’s also important to consider student participation in demanding courses, as well as enrollment in college courses during high school.
Participation in advanced or accelerated courses ranged from 0% to 55% in several districts in the 2021-2022 school year. The average of all districts in the region was around 29%.
The enrollment rate for college courses among high school students ranged from 0% to just over 81%. The Lucerne County average was 15%, the Lackawanna County average was 27%, and the Wayne County average was 79%. In Lackawanna County, college course enrollment is still significantly lower than the 2019-2020 school year. Averages rose in Wayne and Luzerne Counties.
Indicators show the higher status
Educational degree in NEPA
In 2020–2021, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties awarded 7,185 degrees—including 1,782 certificate and two-year degrees, 3,066 four-year degrees, and 2,337 postgraduate degrees.
Most degrees were awarded in Nursing (521 degrees), General Business Administration and Management (421 degrees), and Accounting (289 degrees).
Certificates and two-year qualifications were most commonly awarded in liberal arts and sciences, licensed practical nursing, registered nursing, and criminal justice.
Since the pandemic, there appears to be a downward trend in the total number of degrees awarded, but despite the setbacks from COVID-19, Avery-Stoss said Northeast Pennsylvania’s impressive and diverse group of higher education institutions continue to be an asset in preparing students become a success in the workforce.
Ultimately, more than 10% of the workforce in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties earned an associate’s degree. More than a quarter of Luzerne County’s population ages 25 and older has a bachelor’s degree or higher (which is nearly 31% in Lackawanna County and nearly 20% in Wayne County).
“At the K-12 level and beyond, the quality of the education and training of residents and workers is directly related to the success of a region’s economy,” added Avery-Stoss. “Salary levels are often related to high-skill jobs, which in turn are linked to education levels, so higher education and training can lead to greater economic opportunity and a more competitive workforce.”
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