Nadine Wimmer Reporting
Utah prides itself on being a highly educated state. So you can imagine how surprised Deanie was when she found out, maybe we're not.
Two national stores planning to come here changed their minds when they learned how few Utah residents have college degrees. In fact, the numbers have taken such a downward turn, even state leaders are taking action.
The Gateway was supposed to be a new home for store Crate and Barrel and restaurant The Cheesecake Factory.
Brends Winawer, Shopper: "I think they'd be a great asset to Utah."
Tamara Copier, Shopper: "I get frustrated about when I travel is that I see all these fun, new stores."
The reason in this case is eye opening. These businesses prefer areas where at least 35-percent of the population has college degrees. Everyone assumed Utah would clear. To the dismay of even Gateway developers, we didn't come close, with just 28 percent
Roger Boyer, Boyer Company: "It was a little bit of a let down because we thought we were better than what we really are."
The implications with this troubling trend have much more to do with just at which stores we can shop.
Richard Kendell, Commission of Higher Education: "A high school diploma is obsolete, it will get you nowhere in today's world."
Utah's Commissioner of Higher Education also found we're moving in the wrong direction. Ten years ago, 41-percent of Utah's young people were enrolled in college. Today the number's dropped to 36-percent, even as the job market moves toward high technology.
So the state is launching a campaign to encourage every student to pursue college and graduate with a degree or a certificate.
Richard Kendell: "This may be the first time in memory where the older generation 45-64 has more education than the younger generation 25-34."
They're also encouraging more students to take tougher high school schedules.
By the way, they're not giving up on luring those stores to Utah, so stay tuned.
