Educating for Growth: Leveraging Educational Attainment to Drive Long-Term Urban Economic Productivity
Targeted educational initiatives are helping communities build skilled workforces and drive economic growth
As workforce growth has slowed in recent years, business and economic leaders must work to foster better educational outcomes, both for their own talent needs and to promote broader prosperity. This Empowering American Cities white paper from Fifth Third Bank and the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise explores how four innovative programs aim to address the challenge of building a skilled workforce through education-based pathways.
Key Insights:
- Individualized Engagement: Learn how featured programs meet learners where they are—offering mentorship, financial support and flexible pathways to success.
- Workforce Productivity: Explore how educational attainment directly boosts output per worker, helping cities grow resilient economies and businesses stay competitive.
- Strategic Partnerships: See how collaboration between employers, educators and civic leaders creates talent pipelines aligned with local industry needs.
- Scalable Models: Understand how shared approaches across diverse geographies offer replicable frameworks for upskilling and economic mobility nationwide.
Whether you’re a business leader, policymaker or educator, understanding how education drives economic development is not only essential for building a more equitable and prosperous future but also a high-return strategy for cities seeking to build resilient economies.