Economic forecast night highlights workforce, education

The panel included Tom Keegan, president of Skagit Valley College; Sabah Randhawa, president of Western Washington University; Isiaah Crawford, president of the University of Puget Sound; and Paul Pitre, chancellor for Washington State University’s Everett campus.

Randawa said in the next five years there will be an estimated 740,000 job openings in the state — and two-thirds will require postsecondary credentials. He said encouraging students to pursue bachelor’s degrees would best address these workforce needs.

Keegan said while his college focuses on providing career and technical training, he believes a liberal arts education is more important than ever.