Using data from the Quarterly Workforce Indicators, this brief explores changes in the Los Angeles County labor market and in the working-age population as a plausible explanation for some of the enrollment decline at the county's community college campuses.

Student retention has been an issue that has plagued college institutions for decades. Many researchers have conducted studies to investigate the challenges associated with students staying enrolled at their institutions. Although challenges in student retention exist, for-profit colleges have fared better in student retention than community…