Ball State Research Links Education Level, Earnings
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA new report from the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University used data from 2014 and found that five of the 10 counties with the highest earnings also had the populations with the most education. The study also suggests that college graduates living in Indiana tend to cluster in the same communities.
In addition, the research connects employment growth and population growth in Indiana counties. Study Author Nathan Law says "at the individual level, a college degree is ever more important in obtaining a job, and at the regional level, higher educational attainment can help attract jobs to an area. More jobs and more employment are associated with higher wages. Wage increases may be triggered by the need to attract and retain highly skilled workers who may seek out other job opportunities in the region."
The Relationship Between Educational Attainment & Wages report also shows a connection between lower levels of educational attainment and "significantly lower levels of income." The average per capita income in the 10 counties with the lowest levels of educational attainment is $20,660, while the 10 counties with the highest attainment levels averaged $28,973.
You can connect to more about the study from the Center for Business and Economic Research by clicking here.