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2024 Annual Public Policy Forum, December 4, 2024 REGISTER

College presidents, business leaders, and experts on economics, demographics and generational studies will explore how to stop the outmigration of New Jersey millennials at the New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s March 21 event: “The Education Equation: Strategies for Retaining New Jersey’s Future Workforce.”

The event, which is open to the media, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21 at the National Conference Center in East Windsor. Click here to view the complete program.

New Jersey leads the nation in the net outmigration of high school students attending college, and census data shows millennials between the age of 18 and 34 are New Jersey’s largest outmigration demographic. This full-day NJBIA event will explore strategies for keeping more college-bound students in New Jersey and how to best prepare young people with the job skills needed to have successful careers in the Garden State.

Dr. James Hughes, Dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy at Rutgers University, who is a nationally recognized expert on demographics, housing and regional economics, will give the morning keynote address.  The afternoon keynote speaker is Chuck Underwood, who pioneered the field of generational studies and now provides generational consulting work for many of the nation’s largest corporations and institutions.

Panel discussions include:

  • “Creating a Brand for Higher Education in New Jersey,” moderated by John L. McGoldrick, chairman of the Governor’s Council on Higher Education, and featuring five college and university presidents.
  • “Post-Secondary Skill Building for Successful Career Pathways,” moderated by Acting Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Aaron Fichtner and featuring leaders from labor, business and community colleges.
  • “Where do Millennials Live, Work and Play?” a panel discussion moderated by PlanSmart NJ Executive Director Ann Brady that will include millennials and speakers from McCarter & English, Audible Inc., and HHG Development Associates.

Reporters who would like to attend are asked to contact Peter Peretzman at 609-858-9502.