Swickard: Becoming the more jobs state

Commentary by Michael Swickard - Two things are true for the majority of high school students in New Mexico, especially in the smaller communities: first, if these young people get a college degree, they tend to make considerably more money in their lifetime than if they do not. It is not a guarantee but like fastening your seat belt does not completely protect you in a collision; it certainly improves your odds of not being seriously injured.  more opportunities with a college degree than without/ Secondly, for many who get a college degree there is a better than average chance they will have to relocate elsewhere in the state or more than likely somewhere else in the nation to be able to have a college education required job. College-required jobs are at a premium in New Mexico, outside of finance, engineering, nursing and education. New Mexico colleges graduate many students who find that pressures in the job market force them to leave the state. There are even majors in New Mexico colleges for which there are no jobs within the state. In talking to recent graduates I find that some ambitious graduates say it is obvious that companies in New Mexico are just holding on, not leading the nation. Read column

Swickard: Becoming the more jobs state