The New England states, like the rest of the nation, are finally starting to show signs of a recovery from the Great Recession of 2008, albeit at different paces. Three of the states, however, still have unemployment rates that are about four percentage points above where they were before the recession began in 2007. Arising from this recovery, America will find itself on a collision course with the future: not enough Americans are completing college. In its most recent report, "Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018," the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce has shown that by 2018, Americans will need 22 million new college degrees to meet employers' demand--but at current graduation rates, they will fall short of that number by at least 3 million postsecondary degrees, associate or better. At a time when every job is precious, this shortfall will mean lost economic and social opportunity for millions of American workers. The "Help Wanted" report demonstrates that employers will increasingly demand proof of competency of workers, not only in terms of formal degrees, but also through industry-based certification programs and credentials that require periodic renewals. It highlights the need in the U.S. economy for more workers with postsecondary education and training in order to leverage economic opportunity. (Contains 7 tables.)