Lack of Education hurts Maverick County Workforce Members
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
An American community’s prosperity is measured by the level of education of its workforce members and the impact of education on the median income levels of its workers. Education in general is the best barometer to measure the future earnings and success of every American worker, including Maverick County. The Eagle Pass Business Journal reviewed recent U.S. Census and American Community Survey data to determine the impact of education on the median income of Maverick County workforce members. The Eagle Pass Business Journal research data confirmed that the educational level of each Maverick County worker determines the probability of earning a higher median income as well as the community’s prosperity.
A community’s prosperity and growth is determined by the educational level of its workforce as businesses and industry seek to hire educated employees to work for their business.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal reviewed Maverick County’s workforce of persons 25 years and older and their educational levels compared to their median annual income. According to the data reviewed, there are 30,661 persons in Maverick County who are of the age 25 years or older living here. Unfortunately, a staggering rate of 43.4% (13,288) persons aged 25 years or older living in Maverick County have an education level of less than a high school diploma compared to only 18.8% in the State of Texas. In other words, Maverick County has more than double (43.4%) the state average (18.8%) of persons without a high school diploma residing and working here.
Maverick County persons aged 25 or older without a high school diploma have an annual median income of only $12,809 compared to $18,993 in the State of Texas, more than $6,000 difference. Local workers without a high school diploma earn significantly less ($6,000) than elsewhere in Texas.
On the other hand, there are a total of 11,800 persons (38.5%) living in Maverick County aged 25 or older that have a high school diploma compared to a statewide 48%. Maverick Countians aged 25 or older with a high school diploma have an annual median income of $20,872 compared to the Texas annual median income of $26,791, again an almost $6,000 difference.
A total of 5,315 persons (18.1%) aged 25 or older in Maverick County have an education higher than a high school diploma compared to a statewide 33.1%, almost twice as less than the statewide average. Maverick Countians aged 25 or older with an education higher than a high school diploma earned an annual median income of $24,594 compared to the Texas annual median income of $33,996, more than a $9,000 difference.
A total of 2,565 persons aged 25 or older in Maverick County have an education of a Bachelor’s degree while 1,820 persons have an education of an Associate’s degree, 856 persons have an education of a Master’s degree, and only 74 persons have an education of a Doctorate degree.
Maverick Countians aged 25 or older with a Bachelor’s degree earn an annual median income of $43,718 compared to $51,029 statewide, more than a $7,000 difference.
Maverick Countians aged 25 or older with a Graduate-level education earn an annual median income of $51,029 compared to $65,717 statewide, a whopping $14,000 plus difference.
These educational and annual median income statistics demonstrate that the higher the level of education a person has the higher their annual median income will be, that Maverick County annual median incomes are significantly lower than the Texas statewide levels, and that almost one-half (43.4%) of persons aged 25 or older in Maverick County do not have a high school diploma.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal study also found that certain subdivisions or residential areas in Maverick County have the highest levels of persons aged 25 or older without a high school education, including Eidson Road area had 2,923 persons, Chula Vista Subdivision had 986 persons, Siesta Acres had 728 persons, Rosita Valley area had 616 persons, Las Quintas Fronterizas had 583 persons, and Elm Creek Subidivision had 416 persons.
The Eagle Pass Business Journals study also found that of the 13,288 persons aged 25 or older without a high school education in Maverick County, a total of 7,180 (46.3%) are women compared to men with 5,909 (43.2%).
Another startling discovery of the Eagle Pass Business Journal study is that of the 13,288 persons aged 25 or older without a high school education in Maverick County, only 4,225 persons are employed while a staggering 9,063 persons are unemployed.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal study clearly demonstrates that Maverick Countians aged 25 or older annual median income is directly based on the level of their educational level and that the annual median income is significantly lower than the Texas average. The study also shows that Maverick Countians need to complete their high school diplomas and pursue higher levels of education if they are to increase their annual median income earnings and their overall prosperity. The community needs to attract and develop new businesses and industries which pay higher wages and develop technical degree programs which will pay its citizens higher wages and salaries comparable to the Texas statewide averages if it is to prosper and grow.
