Area workforce aging faster

New data from the state Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development for 2022 show the workforce in the identified 13-county Southeast region — including Cape Girardeau, Scott and Pemiscot counties — is graying at a faster rate.

In 2021, the department reported 24% of those employed were 55 and older, up from 20% just a decade before.

Of note

• Disabled population in the region is at 17.5%, higher than the statewide rate of 12.2% and 10.3% in the U.S.
• Educational attainment in the 13 counties is 25% of those 25 and older holding an associate, bachelor's or advanced degrees. The figure is markedly lower than the 38% and 42% for the state and nation, respectively.

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