Students look at examples of 3D printed objects made at Calhoun Community College during a career fair held last year. Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday announced 65 by 2025, an initiative aimed at increasing the state's post-secondary attainment rate while also building a highly skilled workforce.

Citing a need to boost enrollment at Alabama’s two-year schools while also building a highly skilled workforce, Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday announced a new initiative he hopes will accomplish both.

The goal of 65 by 2025 is to have 65 percent of Alabamians attain some type of post-secondary education either through a certificate of value, credential or degree.

Bentley said the initiative would unify state agencies, education institutions, businesses and industries to share a common goal of increasing the state’s post-secondary attainment rate.

“Our citizens, now more than ever, need to have post-secondary education to be competitive in the workforce,” Bentley said. “It is important that every person who wants a job have an opportunity to get a job, but it is equally essential that each person is properly trained. Alabama has been successful in attracting businesses because of our trained and highly skilled workforce, and I want to see that trend continue.”

A study by the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Center on Education and the Workforce shows that within the next five to 10 years, more than half the jobs in Alabama will require education and skills beyond a traditional high school diploma. The study also shows that by 2020, 65 percent of jobs in the nation will require postsecondary education.

According to the Alabama Department of Labor, occupations requiring postsecondary education are projected to grow faster than average at 10.4 percent.

“Often, it’s the lack of a degree or a particular certification that prevents someone from obtaining their dream job,” Secretary of the Alabama Department of Labor Fitzgerald Washington said. “This initiative has the potential to remove that barrier for so many Alabamians. It can unlock opportunities that were previously denied, and allow workers to better provide for themselves and their families.”

Tom Hill, president of the Limestone County Economic Development Association, said the initiative sounds like a good idea if the state is willing to give scholarships to students who can’t afford tuition at a two-year school. With or without those incentives, Hill explained education and workforce development is key to attracting new industries.

“The more we can do to get kids from high school into community college programs, it will show industries we’ve got programs in place,” he said. “Job skills will just continue to get more and more high-tech.”

He lauded local school systems for their efforts in technical education and dual enrollment programs. The Limestone County Career Technical Center is the largest in the state with more than 900 students enrolled.

“We’ve got to get these kids motivated into finding out what fields are out there and what courses they can take so they can become a good employee for a company,” Hill said.