By 2021, 740,000 jobs are expected to open in Washington state.

For the most part, employers will likely staff these positions with workers who have completed some formal education beyond high school. But that could cause a disconnect in the Evergreen State, where only 40 percent of high-school graduates ever go on to earn a college degree, apprenticeship or other such credential by the time they turn 26. That means employers likely will have to import workers from other states — or countries — to fill high-demand jobs, especially those that pay well in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. More…