OUR WORKFORCE IS BECOMING MORE QUALIFIED
Why Is This Important?
The better the match between the skills of residents and higher-skilled jobs in growing clusters, the more likely Solano County will capture the benefits of its dynamic economy. People use knowledge gained from previous jobs or school to acquire occupations that use the information they have learned. Educational attainment provides people with access to opportunity, and as skill sets expand, income potential grows. As regional educational levels rise, populations improve their ability to compete in the global economy for higher-paying jobs.This results in higher productivity and a higher standard of living in the region. Commuting to work outside the county requires more time and money, and commuting into the county to work from other places indicates the presence of desirable jobs.
How Are We Doing?
In 2009, 77 percent of employees in Solano County were residents of the county, up from 76 percent in 2005. Between 2005 and 2009, the number of employed residents with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher increased by 26 percent, while employed nonresidents with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher decreased by 9 percent. Over this period, the county attracted more highly educated people; however, more recent trends since the downturn are more difficult to explain. More recently, residents with a Bachelor's Degree or higher declined by 15 percent from 2008 to 2009 (a decline of 3,800 employed residents). In 2009, Contra Costa attracted the largest commute flows from Solano County (19,700 people). In addition, the number of residents commuting to Sacramento increased by 27 percent and by 52 percent to San Mateo.The number of people commuting to Solano County increased from Sacramento (17 percent) and Napa County (31 percent), in 2009.