Regionally, there has to be an understanding about promoting competitiveness by investing in human capital and skills building, according to Matt Horton, director, Center for Regional Economics, Milken Center.

WorkingNation sat down with Horton at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2022 in Beverly Hills.

Horton says people without four-year degrees should be able to access new skills. “I know the community colleges in California have focused on career technical education and the investments that we’re making in CTE skills that are tied to different sectors and industries that lead to longer term or higher paying jobs,” he says.

“That’s not really reflective of a B.A. degree or an AA degree. It’s really around skills and highlighting jobs that are attached to those skills. It’s really a matter of the investment that those leaders made in that program, in that curricula, that translates into opportunities for more students.”

Learn more about the Milken Institute.