The US faces a current and growing shortage of skilled workers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs requiring higher education will grow by 22 percent between 2002 and 2012 nearly double the rate of non-college jobs. In addition, the highly educated baby-boom generation is nearing retirement age, and shortages in the scientific and engineering-related fields will be particularly acute.

Education has significant spillover effects on voter awareness of public events, such as more frequent reading of newspapers and journals, and increased awareness of issues such as schools, city and county council activities, and state and local tax policies.