Improving the quality of the workforce is a key to economic innovation and productivity. UCSB plays a central role in enhancing the skills of the regional workforce. In 2006 alone, over 6,500 degrees were conferred, primarily to students of Letters and Science and Engineering. Each new engineering graduate has a real economic output of at least $67,000 in the greater LA region. In helping California to remain a leader in the knowledge-based global economy, the entire UC system has increased its conferral of engineering degrees by 2.7% annually, while the national rate has declined 1.8%.