Submitted Photo With the inclusion of workforce certificate and certifications, North Dakota’s rate of overall education attainment has increased by 15.4% since 2009. Photo from Adobe Stock.

North Dakota has made notable progress in boosting the number of working-age adults who hold a degree or credential beyond high school.

That’s according to new research from Lumina Foundation, which warns of avoiding complacency.

Lumina’s “A Stronger Nation” report shows nearly 55% of American adults ages 25 to 64 have a college degree or industry-recognized certification.

North Dakota’s attainment rate is above that level at 59%, and, like the national rate, it’s been climbing in recent years.

Foundation’s board member Theresa Lubbers, who is also the president of the think tank the Sagamore Institute, said there’s no reason to stop pushing for even better results, noting the connection between post-secondary education and a good-paying job.

“Not all credentials or all degrees are the same,” Lubbers said. “I don’t think that the salary alone can be the measure because some important jobs don’t have the pay we think they should have, but economic mobility is an important way to measure it.”

The report specifies a post-high school education as an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree or a certificate geared for various jobs.

Based on the skills and knowledge needed to advance in today’s economy, Lumina says the U.S. needs to at least have 60% of adults reaching one or more of those milestones.

Last year, North Dakota joined a coalition of states, higher-ed institutions and other organizations committed to enhancing recent gains.

Lubbers stressed the need for building consensus among the public, private and philanthropic sectors so that people are aware of how the job landscape is constantly evolving.

“We have shifted thinking to a learner-based system of higher education that is future-focused, workforce aligned, and then we come up with the strategies that will do that,” Lubbers said. “So, I’m a big believer in strategic plans for higher education in states.”

North Dakota also is among the states to weave in free tuition programs for income eligible students. Lubbers said more of these efforts have to be part of the conversation moving forward.

“We have an obligation, I think,” Lubbers said. “If we’re going to tell people that education beyond high school is more important than ever, we need to make sure they can afford to access it.”