CEOs for Cities, a national group of business and civic leaders, will host the Phoenix Talent Divided Summit. The event on Friday will highlight a study asserting that a one percent increase in the number of residents with bachelor’s degrees could have an annual impact of $3.1 billion on the region’s economy.

CEOs for Cities is on a multi-city “Talent Divided Tour” to boost educational attainment with a push for additional bachelor’s recipients.

Mayor Phil Gordon, Maricopa County Community Colleges Chancellor Rufus Glasper and other community leaders will participate in a discussion about how educational attainment correlates to a region’s economy.

“An educated workforce is a major contributor to a region’s economic growth,” said Mayor Gordon. “Phoenix has built a solid knowledge economy with the expansion of downtown university campuses, partnerships with Maricopa Community Colleges, creation of small high schools and collaboration with the Lumina and Gates foundations, and this summit highlights the need for educational attainment.”

According to the 2003 U.S. Census American Community Survey, Place Level Ranking,Phoenix ranks 49th in the U.S. percentile of 25 year olds who have completed a bachelor’s  degree. 

Studies show that Americans with college degrees have a median income of $58,292 while the median income is $33,176 for full-time workers with high school diplomas.

For more information about the importance of education, contact the city’s Youth and Education Programs Office at 602-495-0314.