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Educational Migration: Brain Drain In Kentucky, Dustin Pugel

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky has been steadily growing in its bachelor degree holder production over the past ten years, with almost 4500 more college degree holders produced per year in 2010 than in 2000. The literature has shown that this is good news for the economic growth prospects of the state, because a more highly skilled work force means a higher potential for production. This newly educated workforce, however, will not help Kentucky to grow if they take those skills elsewhere.

Using five-year American Community Survey data for Kentuckians over the age of 17, I was able to determine that Kentucky is not …