(Opinion) New Hampshire is producing the talent. Now let’s keep it.

NH is getting older, employers need talent; higher ed can help retain, attract more students here

Mica Stark

EDUCATION

By: Mica Stark

It is commencement season at colleges and universities throughout New Hampshire, as thousands receive their diplomas and launch into the next chapter of their lives.

This spring, more than 8,500 students will graduate from campuses across New Hampshire — people who have spent years here, and who now stand at the threshold of deciding where their future begins.

Many graduates will remain in our state and fill the workforce pipeline, contributing to our economy. Their future is bright, but what of OUR future?

Every spring, our colleges and universities are producing exactly the kind of talent the state needs — as we face an aging workforce, demographic pressure and real challenges attracting and retaining workers. But the pipeline isn’t full.

The problem is clear: New Hampshire is getting older, employers across sectors need talent, and we are not positioned as strongly as we should be to keep more students here, attract new students or bring working adults back into higher education. Higher education can and should be a central part of the answer.

Consider the results of the New Hampshire College and University Council’s (NHCUC) most recent economic impact report: Nonprofit higher education institutions in New Hampshire generated a total impact of $7.6 billion on New Hampshire’s economy in FY 2023. These institutions are also among the state’s most important employers and community anchors, directly employing nearly 25,000 people and supporting many more jobs through their statewide economic activity.

Our higher education institutions enroll 66,000 students across 19 NHCUC member colleges and universities. Colleges are not just educational institutions; they are economic engines, workforce partners, employers and regional anchors. Commencement is a visible reminder of that. But are we doing the most with this economic engine when vacancies remain unfilled and we consistently lose significant numbers of graduates to other states?

We can aspire for more. We can do better if we work together. Let’s answer this question: What if New Hampshire became the best state in the country to go to college and stay?

To reach that goal, we have to keep more New Hampshire high school graduates in-state for college. We need to market to students elsewhere that our state holds the best opportunities. We need to convince more graduates to stay here and work, raise families and put down roots. We must also re-engage working adults who started but never finished a degree and are considering a new path.

One of the most powerful retention tools we have is also one of the most underdeveloped: high-quality, paid, work-based learning. We know from the data that students who complete a meaningful internship while enrolled are significantly more likely to accept their first job in New Hampshire.

That’s not a coincidence — it’s a relationship. When a student works alongside a Manchester manufacturer, a Portsmouth tech firm or a North Country health care provider, they don’t just build a resume; they build roots.

Scaling paid internships statewide — connecting every student who wants one to a quality opportunity — is one of the highest-return investments we could make in our workforce future. New Hampshire has an opportunity right now to put meaningful new resources toward exactly this kind of program. It is something we can begin to do, with the right partnerships and the right commitment.

Where do we begin? By coming together to prioritize higher education as a critical economic engine. If we don’t take care of the things we value, they begin to decline. We must work together to weave an education and workforce web to improve connections and opportunities for graduates. Chambers, nonprofits, business leaders, school districts can all function as one seamless system for workforce. Our colleges and universities can be the foundation for how to attract, educate, retain and reengage talent. The opportunity is right in front of us to strengthen our economy and become more resilient. We can boost our workforce, help local businesses and make our state healthier.

Mica Stark is president and CEO of the New Hampshire College & University Council.