State demographer Lloyd Potter projects Texas educational attainment rates

Lloyd Potter

By Jesus Chavez
Public Affairs Specialist

(April 8, 2014) -- Lloyd Potter, the Texas state demographer and UTSA professor of demography, has released a new study regarding projections of the educational attainment rates of the Texas civilian workforce through 2030.

The Office of Texas State Demographer and the Texas State Data Center (TXSDC) at UTSA prepared "Educational Attainment Projections of the Texas Civilian Workforce, 2011-2030" in cooperation with Helen You, a researcher at the UTSA Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research (IDSER).

The new study examines the implications of two potential projected routes that the overall educational attainment of Texas's civilian workers by 2030 might take and how these routes might affect Texas's overall economic future.

By looking at data from 2011 and projecting trends through 2030, Potter and You found that while educational attainment rates will generally improve for all populations, significant disparities will persist across racial and ethnic groups.

"The education of our future civilian workforce is of crucial importance for the future economic vitality of Texas, but educational attainment is greatly affected by trends in demographic composition," said Potter. "In light of recent projections, a significant investment must be made toward improving the educational attainment rates of our young men and women, and Hispanics in particular."

According to Potter, the state's projected population growth over the next two decades will be driven by growth of its Hispanic population. By 2020, the Hispanic population is projected to surpass all others in the state.

Governor Rick Perry appointed Potter state demographer in June 2010. In addition to this role, Potter is the director of the IDSER and TXSDC. His research interests are in applied demography with a focus on health, education, energy and water.

Potter holds a Ph.D. in demography and sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Public Health Degree from Emory University, a Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Houston at Clearlake and a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University.

Before coming to UTSA, Potter served as the director of the National Suicide Prevention Resource Center, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, while working as the director of the Children's Safety Network at the Education Development Center Inc. Previously, he managed youth violence and suicide prevention efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Texas Data Center distributes Texas census information, population estimates and projections, and information from federal, state and other government sources.

Learn more about the UTSA College of Public Policy and the UTSA Department of Demography.