- Individuals who went through community college occupational degree programs were eight percent more likely to be employed and they earned over $4,400 per year more on average that did similar individuals in the Washington labor force who did not enroll in any training program.
- Not only do workers with at least a year of college and a credential earn substantially more, they are also in higher demand among employers.
- Short term training (1-2 quarters) without receiving a credential, may help individuals get into the labor market, but it usually does not help them advance beyond low paying jobs. Adult basic education classes and/or a limited number of college level classes do not provide much benefit in terms of employment or earnings.
- Students who start with a plan to attend college for a year or longer were more successful than students who did not know upon enrollment how long they would attend.
But in attending college you need to have a plan before you begin. Investigate the different types of degrees and certificates offered at Green River Community College, and read about the kind of jobs you might qualify for once you finish the degree or certificate. Once you decide on a training program, plan out how long it will take you to finish it. The more you plan, the more successful you will be.
To read the Tipping Point Research Study in full click here (it's relatively short, weighing in at about 6 pages).