Just 30 percent of Texans between the ages of 25 and 35 have any kind of post-secondary degree, compared to the national average of 42 percent. Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business, says that if students are not adequately prepared to enter the workforce, businesses in the state will have trouble competing at the national level.

“My biggest fear is that we will not have an educated workforce and the jobs will go elsewhere,” Hammond told University of Texas Lecturer Jim Henson in a recent installment of the Texas Politics Speaker Series.

The TAB has criticized the state’s public education accountability system for inflating school quality ratings despite persistently low graduation rates. A new system is currently being put into place, and Hammond says Texas companies are eager to see improving results.

“Our hope is to engage the business community as a leader and a critical friend of education at all levels,” he said.

Below is an excerpt from Hammond’s full conversation with Henson.