California business leaders understand that one of the most important drivers of our economy is the quality of our workforce. They also recognize higher education as a contributor to the quality of life for their employees and their communities.

From agriculture to technology, finance to health care, and everything in between, industries today require a greater number of college-trained workers. Through vocational and degree programs offered in the community colleges and bachelor’s and advanced degrees offered in our universities, California business depends on students having access to college and completing their goals.

But there is a major challenge ahead. Over the next two decades, according to a recent report by Dr. Robert Fountain at Sacramento State University, the growing demand for educated workers and the need to replace retiring Baby Boomers means that we need 3.2 million new college-educated workers – nurses, teachers engineers and others – to keep our competitive edge.  A study by the Public Policy Institute of California, “California 2025,” also found that California is likely to require 39 percent of its workforce be college-educated in the year 2025, while that state is currently on track to have 33 percent. A fundamental goal of the Campaign for College Opportunity is to prepare the growing young population of California to meet the state’s future workforce needs.

Whether you are the owner of a small business, a leader of a large employer, or involved in a business association or Chamber of Commerce, we welcome your involvement in the Campaign. Please join us.

“It is vital to the California economy and to the quality of life in our state that we educate all the young people in our state for the jobs that exist today and will exist tomorrow. For that reason, it is critically important that the Campaign for College Opportunity succeeds in reaching its goal.” – Bill Hauck, president, California Business Roundtable, and board chair, Campaign for College Opportunity