As economy improves, fewer seek community college degrees - Jessie Balmert, Telegraph Forum

As the demand for skilled labor increases, one might think the demand for educating skilled laborers would follow suit. However, that’s not the case at Ohio’s community colleges. Enrollment has dropped 18.5 percent in the past five years — more than 38,000 students — and 5.4 percent between fall 2013 and fall 2014 alone, according to the Ohio Board of Regents preliminary enrollment estimates. Enrollment at community colleges tends to follow economic ups and downs more than enrollment at larger universities, said Mary McCue, spokeswoman for Terra State Community College. That college’s enrollment declined 26 percent in the past five years — a loss of about 900 students — and 11 percent between fall 2013 and fall 2014 alone. http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/story/news/local/2014/11/22/economy-improves-fewer-seek-community-college-degrees/19394765/