(By Nolan Mckendry/The Center Square) — The Louisiana Board of Regents provided an update on the state’s progress toward its ambitious education attainment goal set in the 2019 master plan, Louisiana Prospers.

The plan aims to boost the percentage of adults aged 25 to 64 holding post-secondary credentials of value to 60% by 2030. Recent data shows that Louisiana has reached an attainment rate of 51% — the highest in the state’s history — marking significant progress despite numerous challenges.

In 2019, Louisiana’s post-secondary attainment rate hovered in the mid-40s.

Today, that rate stands at 51%, fueled largely by the achievements of younger residents. For adults aged 25 to 34, Louisiana’s attainment rate surpasses neighboring states like Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.

To meet the 2030 goal, Louisiana needs to increase the number of annual credential earners to 85,000, up from the current 73,000.

“We are absolutely on track to achieve our 60% goal by 2030,” Dr. Tristan Denley, deputy commissioner for academic affairs and innovation, said. “This progress highlights the resilience of our state, which has persevered through natural disasters and other adversities.”

Of the 73,000 credentials awarded annually, the majority are in high-demand fields like business, STEM, healthcare and applied technology.

While the progress made is impressive and impactful, “the challenge that we have is that there’s just not enough” graduates in jobs that enable themselves and the state to prosper, Denley said.

Currently, 68% of job postings in Louisiana require education beyond a high school diploma, yet only 51% of residents hold a credential higher than that level.

“It is already the case that to meet the needs of the state we need to be graduating more people with the kinds of credentials that the state needs and employers need,” Denley said. “We need more people who need industry based certifications that leads directly into the workforce, but our employers today need more people who have associates, bachelors, doctoral and masters degrees.”

Denley emphasized that 85% of graduates from Louisiana’s public institutions are securing jobs rated as three, four, or five stars by the Workforce Commission, with high demand and good pay.

“We don’t just want any credentials; we want credentials that fuel Louisiana’s economy and help our residents prosper,” Denley explained.

The Board of Regents highlighted the broader societal impact of higher education.

Adults with postsecondary credentials earn, on average, $1 million more over their lifetimes compared to those with only a high school diploma. They are also more likely to be employed, less likely to experience poverty or incarceration, and tend to enjoy longer, healthier lives.

Louisiana’s workforce landscape underscores the urgency of this initiative. Analysis of job advertisements over the past year revealed that 68% of positions required education beyond high school. Yet, current attainment levels fall short at every degree level, from certifications to advanced degrees.

“2030 is already here,” Denley said. “Employers today are seeking candidates with the kinds of credentials we’re working hard to provide. The gap remains, but it’s a call to action for all of us.”

Achieving the 60% goal by 2030 will require concerted effort equivalent to adding two Superdomes full of credentialed graduates to the workforce, according to Denley.

“Every percentage point increase represents 23,000 more Louisianans with a credential,” Denley said.