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Indicator: Educational Background
Data and Data Discussion provided by King County Benchmark Program
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Educational Attainment of Adult Population in King County
- Upstream Indicators
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There are currently no published Upstream Indicators.
- Downstream Indicators
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Income Distribution --- In the two decades between 1979 and 1999, there was a shift of income away from the four lower income groups to the highest income group. In King County in 2004, the richest 20% of the population received more than ten times the income of the poorest 20%. (view data graph)
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Freedom from Discrimination --- Indicator information based on three surveys conducted in 1999, 2001 and 2004. There were no significant changes over the three survey years for the county. (view data graph)
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Sustainability Snapshot:
Making ends meet in King County can be hard without a college degree and even harder without a high school education. As educational attainment increases, so does median income and lifetime earnings. Moreover, the earnings advantage for those with advanced education is growing. Before 1985, the earnings of a person with a graduate degree were 60 percent higher than the earnings of a high school graduate. Since then, the difference has grown to 100 percent. Even one additional year of school beyond high school, especially if it results in a workforce certificate or credential, brings a significantly higher paycheck. Only half of the people with high school diplomas have health insurance and they are as ten times more likely to run out of food money than college graduates.
Sustainability Trend:
The educational level of King County residents has steadily increased over the past 25 years with more people getting high school diplomas, some college experience, and bachelor's degrees.
Data Discussion
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