The Demographic Cliff

Most Americans would probably rather forget the Great Recession that began in 2007. But as long ago as it may seem, it triggered something that is about to become a big problem: Americans started having fewer babies, and the birth rate hasn’t recovered since. That means a looming decline in the number of 18-year-olds. Since those are the traditional customers for universities and colleges, enrollment is projected to fall dramatically and campuses to close. In this episode, we tell you the surprising benefits of this for students and their parents — and the scary prospects for the economy, which will suffer shortages of workers just as baby boomers retire. Come with us to a college fair where recruiters line up to compete for applicants, and hear from enrollment consultants, economists, and the president of a school that has already closed.

“College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

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Credits:

Hosts and Producers: Kirk Carapezza & Jon Marcus

Editor: Jonathan A. Davis

Fact -checker: Ryan Alderman

Executive Editor: Jenifer McKim

Executive Producer: Lee Hill

Mixing and Sound Design: David Goodman & Gary Mott

Artwork: Matt Welch

Theme Song and original music: Left-Roman

Project Manager: Meiqian He

Consulting Producer and Head of GBH Podcasts: Devin Maverick Robins

"College Uncovered" is a production of GBH News and The Hechinger Report.