Postsecondary Credential Attainment Varies Among U.S Working Age Adults

Postsecondary credential attainment varies among U.S working age adults

Table 1 on webpage

U.S population edu attainment census

The majority of the U.S population age 25-64 has a high school diploma or equivalency.

U.S population age 25-64 year olds educational attainment

High school graduate or equivalency (26.61%)
Some college, no degree (22.01%)
AA degree (8.77%)
BA degree (19.57%)
Graduate or professional degree (11.06%)

Source: U.S Census, American Community Survey, 2012.

Racial and ethnic minorities lag in postsecondary credential attainment. Minorities disproportionately attain lower level credentials.

The majority of African American males age 25 or over have a high school diploma. The majority of African American females age 25 or over have some college, but no degree.

Table 2 on webpage

United States
Estimate / Margin of Error
Total: / 24,250,831 / +/-17,171
Male: / 11,124,224 / +/-9,803
Less than 9th grade / 573,417 / +/-6,889
9th to 12th grade, no diploma / 1,468,484 / +/-10,415
Regular high school diploma / 3,198,440 / +/-16,833
GED or alternative credential / 657,345 / +/-7,776
Some college, no degree / 2,672,425 / +/-14,965
Associate's degree / 724,411 / +/-9,066
Bachelor's degree / 1,216,554 / +/-13,383
Graduate or professional degree / 613,148 / +/-8,540
Female: / 13,126,607 / +/-11,090
Less than 9th grade / 614,466 / +/-6,312
9th to 12th grade, no diploma / 1,442,224 / +/-10,069
Regular high school diploma / 3,267,701 / +/-15,015
GED or alternative credential / 458,632 / +/-6,473
Some college, no degree / 3,456,130 / +/-15,973
Associate's degree / 1,146,805 / +/-10,701
Bachelor's degree / 1,707,423 / +/-14,036
Graduate or professional degree / 1,033,226 / +/-10,114

SEX BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER (BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN ALONE)

Universe: Black or African American alone population 25 years and over 2011-2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

Table 3 on webpage

Census table edu attainment Hispanic alone

The majority of Hispanic males and females age 25 or over have a high school diploma.

United States
Estimate / Margin of Error
Total: / 28,948,817 / +/-7,562
Male: / 14,529,269 / +/-5,869
Less than 9th grade / 3,191,903 / +/-20,083
9th to 12th grade, no diploma / 2,262,800 / +/-16,346
Regular high school diploma / 3,456,618 / +/-20,343
GED or alternative credential / 622,314 / +/-8,062
Some college, no degree / 2,447,859 / +/-15,488
Associate's degree / 731,192 / +/-8,769
Bachelor's degree / 1,234,769 / +/-11,218
Graduate or professional degree / 581,814 / +/-7,844
Female: / 14,419,548 / +/-4,888
Less than 9th grade / 3,005,382 / +/-17,118
9th to 12th grade, no diploma / 1,975,641 / +/-12,083
Regular high school diploma / 3,209,141 / +/-16,068
GED or alternative credential / 505,968 / +/-7,657
Some college, no degree / 2,649,941 / +/-18,064
Associate's degree / 924,357 / +/-9,487
Bachelor's degree / 1,480,164 / +/-12,123
Graduate or professional degree / 668,954 / +/-9,020
SEX BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER (HISPANIC OR
LATINO)
Universe: Hispanic or Latino population 25 years and over
2011-2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

Table 4 on webpage

Census table edu attainment Asian alone

The majority of Asian males and females age 25 or over have a bachelor’s degree.

United States
Estimate / Margin of Error
Total: / 10,691,732 / +/-12,543
Male: / 4,916,027 / +/-7,216
Less than 9th grade / 330,754 / +/-5,062
9th to 12th grade, no diploma / 270,329 / +/-4,630
Regular high school diploma / 651,303 / +/-7,568
GED or alternative credential / 69,719 / +/-2,582
Some college, no degree / 661,948 / +/-7,044
Associate's degree / 308,046 / +/-4,807
Bachelor's degree / 1,406,162 / +/-9,665
Graduate or professional degree / 1,217,766 / +/-9,481
Female: / 5,775,705 / +/-7,974
Less than 9th grade / 581,850 / +/-6,811
9th to 12th grade, no diploma / 347,545 / +/-5,090
Regular high school diploma / 861,292 / +/-8,355
GED or alternative credential / 68,865 / +/-2,250
Some college, no degree / 701,774 / +/-8,309
Associate's degree / 416,922 / +/-5,500
Bachelor's degree / 1,749,598 / +/-11,856
Graduate or professional degree / 1,047,859 / +/-9,099

Close to 50 million adults ages 18 and older have a professional certification or license.

In 2012, 22 percent of adults ages 18 and older held a professional certification or license, or 46.3 million adults.(Measuring Alternative Educational Credentials: 2012, Household Economic Studies)[ME1]

Table 5 on webpage

Appendix Table 3

Fifteen percent of all students, including high school dropouts,[ME2]with various levels of attainment also have an occupational certificate.

Appendix Table 3

Proportions with Vocational Certificates

No Vocational / Vocational
Certificate / Certificate
High school dropout / 18% / 1%
High school graduate (incl. GED) / 24% / 6%
Some college / 14% / 4%
Associate degree / 5% / 2%
Bachelor’s degree / 15% / 2%
Master’s or professional degree / 8% / 1%
Total / 5% / 15%
Observations / 335,908

Community College Occupational Degrees: Are They Worth It?, 2011.[ME3]

Table 6 on webpage

Table 1:Percentage With Alternative Credentials by Regular Education Level for the Population Aged 18 and Older: 2012

Adults age 18 and older with an associate’s degree were most likely to also have an educational certificate. Adults with a doctorate degree were most likely to also have a professional certification or license. Adults with less than a high school credential were most likely to not have any alternative credential. Alternative credentials include certifications, licenses, and educational certificates.[ME4]

Table 1.

Percentage With Alternative Credentials by Regular Education Level for the Population Aged 18 and Older: 2012

(Weighted, numbers in thousands)

No alternative / Professional / Educational
Regular education level / credential / certification, license / certificate
Number / Percent / Number / Percent / Number / Percent
Total...... / . / 161,557 / 75..2 / 46,326 / 21..6 / 19,113 / 8..9
Less than high school. . . . . / . / 22,240 / 93..6 / 1,315 / 5..5 / 411 / 1..7
High school completion. . . . / . / 59,056 / 83..1 / 9,891 / 13..9 / 4,482 / 6..4
Some college...... / . / 32,134 / 76..5 / 8,064 / 19..3 / 4,243 / 10..2
Associate’s degree ...... / . / 11,457 / 63..8 / 5,409 / 30..2 / 3,059 / 17..1
Bachelor’s degree...... / . / 26,196 / 67..3 / 11,447 / 29..5 / 4,027 / 10..4
Master’s degree...... / . / 8,291 / 52..5 / 7,018 / 44..6 / 2,180 / 13..9
Professional degree...... / . / 1,015 / 31..6 / 2,178 / 67..7 / 436 / 13..7
Doctorate degree...... / . / 1,531 / 58..8 / 1,004 / 38..7 / 274 / 10..6

Note: Nonrespondents are not included in estimates of alternative credentials..

Source: U..S.. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation, 2008 Panel, Wave 13..

Source: Measuring Alternative Credentials, 2012.[ME5]

Table 7 on webpage

Table 2: Percentage With Alternative Credentials by Select Characteristics for the Population Aged 18 and Older: 2012

18-29 year olds are more likely to not have any non-degree credential than those aged 30 years of age and over. Hispanics and African Americans lag in non-degree attainment.

Table 2.

Percentage With Alternative Credentials by Select Characteristics for the Population Aged 18 and Older: 2012

(Weighted, numbers in thousands)

Characteristic / No alternative / Professional / Educational
Total / credential / certification, license / certificate
Total...... / . / 235,455 / 75..2 / 21..6 / 8..9
Sex
Male...... / . / 113,352 / 75..2 / 21..7 / 8..3
Female...... / . / 122,103 / 75..3 / 21..4 / 9..5
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone...... / . / 187,330 / 74..4 / 22..4 / 9..1
Black alone ...... / . / 28,728 / 79..0 / 18..2 / 8..2
Asian alone...... / . / 10,680 / 78..2 / 19..4 / 8..8
White, non-Hispanic ...... / . / 155,530 / 72..1 / 24..3 / 9..7
Hispanic (of any race)...... / . / 35,080 / 85..3 / 12..7 / 5..7
Age
18 to 29 years...... / . / 50,867 / 84..3 / 13..9 / 6..0
30 to 49 years...... / . / 81,373 / 70..5 / 26..5 / 10..3
50 years and older...... / . / 103,213 / 74..8 / 21..3 / 9..2
Nativity
Native born ...... / . / 198,609 / 73..7 / 22..8 / 9..5
Foreign born ...... / . / 36,846 / 83..5 / 14..9 / 5..9
Employment Status1
Employed...... / . / 148,776 / 68..8 / 28..1 / 10..5
Unemployed...... / 9,045 / 84..2 / 12..6 / 7..2
Not in the labor force...... / . / 77,634 / 86..5 / 10..1 / 6..2
Occupation
Managerial...... / . / 20,933 / 69..1 / 27..3 / 9..6
Professional...... / . / 25,596 / 57..8 / 39..3 / 12..1
Technical...... / . / 11,410 / 28..5 / 69..6 / 24..7
Service ...... / . / 23,856 / 75..4 / 22..2 / 9..1
Sales...... / . / 16,061 / 79..3 / 17..8 / 7..2
Clerical...... / 19,215 / 81..8 / 13..9 / 8..3
Farming...... / . / 1,428 / 90..0 / 8..2 / 3..8
Craft...... / . / 12,681 / 67..8 / 28..6 / 11..7
Production...... / . / 17,543 / 77..9 / 19..2 / 6..7
Industry
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining...... / . / 3,036 / 83..3 / 13..0 / 7..7
Construction ...... / . / 9,368 / 69..1 / 28..4 / 9..3
Manufacturing...... / . / 14,752 / 81..4 / 13..9 / 7..9
Wholesale trade...... / . / 3,995 / 80..4 / 16..3 / 6..0
Retail trade ...... / . / 16,792 / 82..8 / 14..2 / 7..1
Transportation, warehousing, utilities ...... / . / 6,977 / 68..8 / 28..7 / 8..4
Information...... / . / 3,102 / 82..6 / 14..3 / 6..2
Finance, insurance, real estate...... / . / 9,400 / 61..7 / 35..6 / 11..3
Professional, scientific, management, administration, and
waste management services...... / . / 17,666 / 71..7 / 25..2 / 8..4
Education services, health care, social assistance...... / . / 34,175 / 49..6 / 47..6 / 16..6
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food
services...... / . / 13,612 / 83..9 / 13..6 / 5..4
Other services, except public administration...... / 7,512 / 63..1 / 33..5 / 14..4
Public administration...... / . / 7,407 / 63..0 / 33..4 / 12..9
Military...... / . / 930 / 75..9 / 22..6 / 8..3

1 The employed worked during at least 1 month of the reference period, the unemployed did not work but looked for work during at least 1 month, and those not in the labor force did not work or look for work during any of the months..

Notes: Totals for industry and occupation do not equal total for the employed population because it excludes some contingent workers due to data limitations..Nonrespondents are not included in estimates of alternative credentials..

Source: U..S.. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation, 2008 Panel, Wave 13..

Source: Measuring Alternative Educational Credentials: 2012, Household Economic Studies.[ME6]

Table 8on webpage

Census table edu attainment Black alone

Racial and ethnic minorities lag in postsecondary credential attainment. Minorities disproportionately attain lower level credentials.

The majority of African American males age 25 or over have a high school diploma. The majority of African American females age 25 or over have some college, but no degree.

SEX BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER (BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN ALONE)

Universe: Black or African American alone population 25 years and over 2011-2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

Table 9 on webpage

Census table edu attainment Hispanic alone

The majority of Hispanic males and females age 25 or over have a high school diploma.

Table 10 on webpage

Census table edu attainment Asian alone

The majority of Asian males and females age 25 or over have a bachelor’s degree.

Let me know if I should include Native American and native Hawaiian tables here as well.[ME7]

Minorities earn more certificates than they do Bachelor degrees. In 2007-2008, minorities had more associates degrees than bachelor degrees, and had even more short- term and long-term certificates from all Title IV institutions.

Black and Hispanics earn about 1/3 of all certificates, compared to 20 percent of all BA degrees.Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate certificates, Complete College America, 2010.[ME8]

In 07-08, black and Hispanic made of 23.5 % of AA degrees and 17.3 of BA degrees. They made up 34.9 % of less than one year certificates from all Title IV institutions and 35.6 % for one to two year and two to four year certificates combined.

Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate certificates, Complete College America, 2010.[ME9]

YEAR?? Women of all races make up the majority of certificate holders.

Women make up 2/3 of certificate holders. Black and Hispanic men earn less than half the number of certificates received by minority women.

Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate certificates, Complete College America, 2010.[ME10]

Among the sexes, black and Hispanic men receive 12.4% of all less than one year certificates and women 22.5%. For one to two year certificates, similar numbers are reported (12.4 and 23.2 %). At public cc's, Blacks and Hispanics accounted for only 27 percent of less than one year certificates and 24.5 percent of long term certificates. Within the short term certificate category, there was scarcely any gender imbalance. In the longer term awards, the gender imbalance returns: Black and Hispanic men received only 11,599 awards from community colleges while women received 17,752.

Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate certificates, Complete College America, 2010.[ME11]

In 2007-2008, women received over 60 percent of less than one year certificates and one to two year certificates. However,at the public two-year degree-granting colleges, men receive almost as many certificate awards as women.

In 2007-98?,women received 61 percent of less than one year certificates and 66 percent of one to two year certificates. However, over 72 percent of certificates went to women and 28 % to men at the private, for-profit institutions (career colleges). Among public two year degree-granting colleges (cc's), men received as about as many certificate awards as women (47 and 53 % respectively). In 2008, men at public cc and technical colleges, received 51 % of all short term certificates and women 39 %.Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate certificates, Complete College America, 2010.[ME12]

In 2008, men dominated certificate awards in all fields except healthcare.

In all fields except healthcare, men outnumber women (61 to 39 percent) in these awards but because their numbers are low in healthcare, they still trail behind women in awards overall. In the community colleges in 2008, men received only 19 % of awards in healthcare of all length and 14 percent in longer term programs.

Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate certificates, Complete College America, 2010.

[ME13]

Racial, gender, and age disparities persists through to success in apprenticeships.

Minorities tend to complete apprenticeships at a lower rate than do whites.

Minorities tend to cancel at higher rates than their white counterparts. Among apprentices who entered the system between 2006 and 2007, 49 percent of minorities cancelled and 32 percent completed, while 44 percent of whites cancelled and 38 percent completed.4 State-level data from Massachusetts, Washington and Wisconsin also show minority groups fare worse with apprenticeship than their white counterparts.

APPRENTICESHIP COMPLETION AND CANCELLATION IN THE BUILDING TRADES, 2013.[ME14]

Attaining a postsecondary credential increases a person’s lifetime earnings and their chances of being employed, and reduces the chances of being poor.

Table 11on webpage

Poverty Status

High educational attainment reduces the likelihood of being poor.

United States
Estimate / Margin of Error
Total: / 205,247,877 / +/-21,943
Income in the past 12 months below poverty level: / 25,099,272 / +/-63,959
Male: / 10,323,479 / +/-33,312
Less than high school graduate / 3,310,268 / +/-17,423
High school graduate (includes equivalency) / 3,454,707 / +/-17,702
Some college, associate's degree / 2,352,645 / +/-16,191
Bachelor's degree or higher / 1,205,859 / +/-10,749
Female: / 14,775,793 / +/-38,608
Less than high school graduate / 4,357,835 / +/-19,994
High school graduate (includes equivalency) / 4,762,053 / +/-21,843
Some college, associate's degree / 4,091,851 / +/-17,928
Bachelor's degree or higher / 1,564,054 / +/-12,246
Income in the past 12 months at or above poverty level: / 180,148,605 / +/-79,078
Male: / 88,035,568 / +/-40,500
Less than high school graduate / 10,443,510 / +/-34,478
High school graduate (includes equivalency) / 24,425,680 / +/-44,942
Some college, associate's degree / 25,154,409 / +/-39,517
Bachelor's degree or higher / 28,011,969 / +/-59,474
Female: / 92,113,037 / +/-46,506
Less than high school graduate / 9,405,264 / +/-29,188
High school graduate (includes equivalency) / 24,562,062 / +/-40,883
Some college, associate's degree / 28,435,410 / +/-40,394
Bachelor's degree or higher / 29,710,301 / +/-66,684

POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF INDIVIDUALS BY SEX BY EDUCATIONAL

Universe: Population 25 years and over for whom poverty status is determined

2011-2013 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates[ME15]

Median and lifetime earnings potentials increase with increasing educational attainment. Individuals with low credential attainment do not earn nearly as much as those who obtain advanced credentials.

Table 12on webpage

Figure 5.1: On average, people with higher educational attainment have higher earnings

Chart can also be access here:

Table 13 on webpage

Appendix Table 2: Individual Earnings

Chart can also be accessed here: page 42.

Source:

Community College Occupational Degrees: Are They Worth It?, 2012.[ME17]

Table 14 on webpage

Disparity among Millennials

Chart can also be accessed here:

In 2013, adults age 25-32 with a bachelor degree or higher experienced the highest annual earnings, lowest unemployment rate, and were the least likely to live in poverty.[ME18]

Table 15 on webpage

Earnings and unemployment rates by educational attainment

File name: BLS 2014 unemployment table. Chart can also be accessed here:

In 2014, the unemployment rate was just 4.0 percent with a bachelor’s degree and 5.4 percent for those with an associate’s degree. Workers with less than an associate’s degree experienced unemployment at half the rate of those without.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014

Earnings vary substantially by field of study and industry at all levels of credential attainment.

Table 16 on webpage

Figure 5.12: Earnings not just a function of postsecondary….

Chart can also be access here:

Table 17 on webpage

Figure 5.11: People with the same educational attainment….

Chart can also be access here:

Table 18 on webpage

Figure 1.Quarterly earnings by academic outcome.

Chart can also be accessed here:

On average, long term certificate [ME21]holders out earn short term certificate holders.

Source: Labor Market Returns to Sub-Baccalaureate Credentials: How Much Does a Community College Degree or Certificate Pay?, Mina Dadgar, Madeline Joy Trimble, 2014.[ME22]

Good jobs increasing require some kind of postsecondary education

By 2020, 2/3 of jobs will require some kind of postsecondary education. (Carnevale, Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018)

Table 19 on webpage

Carnevale Figure 2.1

Chart can also be access here:

Table 20on webpage

Carnevale Figure 3.2

Chart can also be access here:

Between 2012-2022, 49 percent of job openings will be middle-skill. [link to NSC only]

Employers report skills gap among applicants, even with those with bachelor degrees and industry recognized certifications.

In 2014, employers reported gaps between their company’s needs and job applicants’ skills who have industry-recognized certifications a problem for their company.

Table 21on webpage

Q.12 table[ME25]

Source:

In the past decade, credentials of all types have grown substantially. Short-term certificates, which can be earned in a year or less, have grown the fastest of any other credential type.[ME27]

In 2007-2008, Title IV approved institutions awarded 749,883 certificates of all lengths.

Offerings by Institution: 2007-08, Title IV-approved institutions awarded 749,883 certificates of all lengths. [ME28]

Source: Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate certificates, Complete College America, 2010[ME29]

Between 2000 and 2010, the number of short-term certificates [ME30]awarded increased by a whopping 151 percent nationally, increasing the share of non-degree credentials that are short-term certificates by almost 10 percent.

Between 2000 and 2010, the number of short-term certificates awarded increased by 151 percent nationally, increasing the share of sub-baccalaureate credentials that are short-term certificates from 16 percent to 25 percent in only a decade.3 Labor Market Returns to Sub-Baccalaureate Credentials: How Much Does a Community College Degree or Certificate Pay?, 2012 (WA State Data)[ME31]

Table 22 on webpage

Table A: Shift to Short…

Between 1987-1998 to 2007-2008, less than one year certificates awarded by community colleges grew by 20 percent.

[ME32]

Source:Certificates Count: An Analysis of Sub-baccalaureate Certificates, Complete College America, 2010.[ME33]

The number of occupational certificates awarded has skyrocketed more than 800% over the past 30 years, according to the CEW – but not enough to satisfy employer demand.