UTAH WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION: Utah faces a shortage of educated workers, but the state consistently ranks at or near the bottom in evaluations of women's educational attainment compared to other states.

• Position: Around Utah: Facts

UTAH WOMEN:

* Represent more than half of enrolled students at degree-granting institutions.

* Make up a greater proportion of enrollees in the 18-24 and 35-44 age groups.

* Edge out men in the categories of attaining some college, no degree; associate degree; and bachelor's degree.

* Complete shorter degrees (less than a bachelor's degree) within 150 percent of normal time compared to the average U.S. woman.

* Have higher labor force participation rates compared to U.S. women: 61 percent compared to 59 percent nationally in 2012.

* Although 53 percent of Utah students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions are women, Utah ranked 46th in nation for female enrollment in 2015.

* In 2014, more than 40 percent of Utah women worked in just two occupational groups: office and administrative support.

* Utah women pursue shorter programs and lower-paying fields of study than Utah men.

* Utah women face unique barriers to persistence, leading to discrepancy between their enrollment and completion of a degree.

* Utah women are less likely to pursue a STEM degree.

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