Business
Oct. 13—Oklahoma needs a qualified workforce to compete in today's economy.
The chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education presented an encouraging portrait of how the state's colleges and universities help meet that need.
Allison D. Garrett told those gathered at the State of Education luncheon this week that colleges keep finding new ways to support Oklahoma's workforce.
Garrett said career-focused credentials — micro-credentials — are one way colleges help Oklahoma businesses and industries.
Employees can pursue micro-credentials online to boost their careers and the micro-credentials will count toward an associate's or bachelor's degree. This is one way to improve career advancement while on the job. Micro-credentials will provide additional skills to anyone who needs them.
There are many jobs where an employee could use extra training to get ahead. Micro-credentialing is a good step forward.
Garrett also said most college graduates do not leave Oklahoma. Nearly 90 percent of Oklahomans attending state colleges work in-state after one year and more than 87 percent work in-state after five years.
Help someone achieve the skills they need to succeed in the workforce is step one. A qualified workforce encourages business and industry to build here or move here. The meeting of those two objectives keep our college graduates in Oklahoma. That's a great sign for our future.