Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE)

PROJECT PURPOSE

Disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted Oklahoma?s workforce and economy. As a result of the pandemic?s onset, Oklahoma?s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 3.1% to 13% within the first four months of the pandemic and approximately 230,000 workers were officially unemployed while 111,000 more were likely out of work or left the labor force at some point during the pandemic/ Further, the economic impact of the pandemic has highlighted Oklahoma?s pre-existing skills gap in critical occupations. Prior to the pandemic, the Governor?s Council on Workforce and Economic Development (GCWED) concluded that Oklahoma faces a sizable skills gap in the state?s key industry sectors and that Oklahoma?s current educational attainment levels do not meet the state?s current and future workforce demands. By 2028, 66 of Oklahoma?s ?100 critical occupations? will require an associate?s degree or higher yet only 34.1% of the state?s adult population has this level of education (Oklahoma Works; U.S. Census Bureau). Through this project, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will leverage the Reach Higher: Oklahoma?s Degree Completion Program to implement several targeted degree completion initiatives to increase the number of degrees and certificates conferred annually to meet the state?s workforce needs.

EVIDENCE

Project initiatives focus on the following evidence-based interventions to increase college degree completion: reducing unmet financial need among students; providing supportive services that meet students? basic needs to improve student success; academic coaching, tutoring and advising to improve student success; internship opportunities to link education to employment; and data-driven decision-making to drive policy decisions that impact student outcomes and institutional priorities.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Oklahoma?s workforce and economy. Oklahoma?s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.1% in January 2020 to 13% by April 2020, and more than 9,700 business locations in Oklahoma temporarily or permanently discontinued business activities as a result of the devastating economic effects of the pandemic. Not only did the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupt Oklahoma?s labor market and result in widespread unemployment, it also greatly accelerated existing workforce trends related automation. Research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated automation potential in Oklahoma by 5 years, and most of the state?s 1.6 million workers will be affected by automation to some extent in the coming decades. Workers most vulnerable to automation are also those most impacted by pandemic-related work disruptions. Adults with lower levels of educational attainment experienced the most severe economic impacts of the pandemic and are more vulnerable to technology advancements in the workplace. During the pandemic, national unemployment rates among adults with only a high school diploma or equivalent peaked at 17.3% compared to 8.4% for those with a bachelor?s degree or higher.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The OSRHE will collect data from state system institutions to measure project performance. Evidence of project success includes increases in: the number of students enrolled at state system institutions; student retention rates; student graduation rates; and number of degrees/credentials conferred annually.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding