Public higher education is training our future workforce

To build American capacity for innovation and growth and to remain competitive in a global economy, the current state of our national infrastructure is appropriately an important bipartisan focus. Yet, during this Labor Day weekend, we would be well served to broaden our view of national infrastructure to include the American workforce. 

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce predicts that by 2031, at least 70% of working-age people in the U.S. will need a degree or other postsecondary credential to meet labor market needs. Yet, as of now, only 54.3% of Americans have such qualifications. This gap underscores the urgent need for a more educated or differently trained workforce, as the jobs of the future increasingly require higher levels of education and specialized skills. America’s public higher education system has long been a cornerstone of our country’s workforce development strategy. With investments in sectors that fuel innovation and bolster economic competitiveness and national security, it plays a pivotal role in advancing American prosperity and global influence. 

Higher education has long been central to the future of the United States, fostering innovation, economic growth and social mobility. Public universities have been at the forefront of this effort, providing accessible and affordable education to a diverse student population. They are critical pipelines of skilled human capital, developing the workforce in emerging and strategic sectors of the American economy. As far back as the late 1800s, the federal government provided funding for land grant colleges that were established to support emerging sectors in agriculture and engineering, as well as emerging trades such as blacksmithing, machine milling and carpentry. During the Cold War, the National Defense Education Act was passed in response to the Soviet launch of Sputnik to better compete in rapidly evolving scientific and technical areas. 

Despite the many contributions that higher education has made to American prosperity, confidence and trust in these institutions have declined precipitously. Rising tuition costs, increasing student debt and a perceived disconnect between academic curricula and real-world skills have fueled this skepticism. According to recent Gallup data, Americans are now almost evenly split in their confidence in higher education, with only about one-third expressing high confidence. Higher education leaders must act to restore trust in our institutions. 

As a university chancellor, I understand and accept these criticisms. I was drawn to the University of Illinois Chicago because of our mission to provide access to the highest levels of educational, research and clinical excellence.

Approximately 56% of our students receive Pell Grants, and 46% are the first in their families to attend college. At the same time, our world-class faculty bring in half a billion dollars in research funding annually, with much of that research focused on real-world issues such as poverty and inequality, health care innovation, homelessness, transportation futures, energy futures, treatments for intractable diseases, climate change and much more.  

With our 16 colleges, we are committed to training the next generation of teachers, social workers, businesspeople, nurses, doctors, lawyers, dentists, pharmacists and engineers. In fact, in Illinois, UIC produces 1 in 3 physicians, pharmacists and dentists and 1 in 4 social workers. UIC has trained 1 out of every 11 Chicago public school principals. More than 8,000 nurses in Illinois attended UIC.