More than half of Northeast Ohio graduates leave the area once they get their degrees. That鈥檚 according to research from Team NEO. But that number can be deceiving.
Fewer than 47 percent of graduates stay in the region. While that may seem like a low number, research chief Jacob Duritsky says it鈥檚 comparable to other large metropolitan areas. The problem is in the actual population.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e Chicago and you鈥檙e a much bigger market, and you keep 48 percent of your graduates, that鈥檚 almost 47,000 people. When you keep 47 percent of the graduates that go through our colleges and universities, that鈥檚 14,000 people.鈥�
Duritsky says it could take years to improve retention and see its effects on the economy, but people from business and higher education are already beginning to think more strategically about reaching students.
鈥淗ow can we give them the best experience while they鈥檙e here that puts them in the best position to be employable here in the region? And hopefully that leads to keeping more of those people here over time.鈥�
Duritsky says their study, Aligning Opportunities, found a high demand for graduates in information technology, health care and manufacturing.
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