A Decade Behind: Breaking Out of the Low-Skill Trap in the Southern Economy

Abstract

The South is caught in a low-skill/low-wage trap. But which came first: low skills or a low wage economy? The South's current predicament is reminiscent of the old adage about the "chicken or the egg." So, which came first, and what does it mean for southern states' economies in the coming decade? A Decade Behind projects the growth of jobs and education requirements in the southern U.S. over the coming decade. In the report, we find that 57% of all jobs in the South will require some form of postsecondary education or training, compared to 65% for the nation.